🔗 Share this article

There is a groundswell of support in defence of Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones following she faced disparaging remarks on social media about her looks during a red carpet function.

She appeared at a promotional function in LA on 9 November where a social media clip discussing her role in season two of the 'Wednesday' show was overshadowed by remarks about her age.

Voices of Support

Aged 58, Laura White, labelled the online criticism "absolute rubbish", stating that "men don't have this sell-by/use-by date which women face".

"Men don't have such a timeline which women face," stated the pageant winner.

Beauty journalist aged 50, Sali Hughes, said differently from men, women were unfairly judged as they age and the actor deserves to be at liberty to look in any way she chooses.

Digital Backlash

Within the clip, uploaded to Facebook and attracted millions of views, Zeta-Jones, hailing from Mumbles, Swansea, discussed how much she enjoyed exploring her role, the Addams Family matriarch, in the new episodes.

However a large portion of the online responses focused on her age and were critical about her appearance.

This criticism ignited a broad defence for the actor, featuring a popular post from one Facebook user which stated: "People criticize females for having cosmetic procedures and attack them if they avoid enough."

Online users came to her defence, as one put it: "This is aging naturally and she appears beautiful."

Some called her as "stunning" and "very attractive", and one comment read that "she appears her age - which is simply life."

A Statement Arrival

She appeared at the studio earlier without any makeup to make a statement and to show that there is no fixed "template" for what a female of a certain age ought to appear.

Like many women of her years, she stated she "takes care of herself" not for a youthful appearance but in order to feel "improved" and look "in good health".

"Ageing is an honour and provided we live as well as possible, that's what truly counts," she added.

She argued that men aren't held to the same aesthetic benchmarks, stating "people don't ask how old famous men are - they simply look 'wonderful'."

She said this was part of the motivation for entering the pageant's division for women over 45, in order to demonstrate that females of a certain age continue to exist" and "still have it".

Unfair Scrutiny

Sali Hughes, an author and presenter of Welsh origin, stated that while Zeta-Jones was "gorgeous" it was "not the point", adding she ought to be at liberty to look as she wishes free from her years being scrutinised.

She stated the social media vitriol showed no woman was "immune" and that females should not face the "constant narrative" which says they are lacking or of the right age - an issue that is "infuriating, no matter the person involved".

When asked if men face equivalent judgment, she said "no, never", noting women were attacked merely for showing "nerve" to be present online while aging.

An Impossible Standard

Even with the beauty industry advocating for "age-defiance", Hughes said females are still criticised whether they aged without intervention or chose interventions such as surgical procedures or injectables.

"When a woman ages without intervention, people say you ought to try harder; when you have treatments, you are criticized for failing to age well," she concluded.