Madonna is firing back after fans took to social media to single her out for her “unrecognizable” appearance at the GRAMMYs.
To recap: The Queen of Pop, 64, appeared center stage at the 65th Annual GRAMMYs on Sunday (Feb. 5) night held at the Crypto.com Arena, located in Downtown Los Angeles. Over the microphone, she took a moment to celebrate the rebels in the music industry who forge their own path and assisted with introducing Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ GRAMMY performance of their awarded collaboration “Unholy”.
Fans Questioned Madonna’s “Unrecognizable” Look
But, even though Madonna had plenty to say about what she believed was important, it was her appearance – particularly her face – that caused a firestorm on social media. Many fans deemed Madonna, who was outfitted in a body-hugging black suit paired with fishnet gloves, unrecognizable, and accused the “Vogue” singer of “touching up her face,” speculating that she may have gotten plastic surgery.
“Madonna, who? That can’t be her. Can it?” one confused fan tweeted.
“#GRAMMYs I really wish Madonna never touched her face,” another person wrote. “There really was no reason. She was going to age beautifully. She’s always been beautiful. #Stopplayingwithyallface #Grammys2023 #Madonna.”
The “Material Girl” Singer Fired Back At Criticism
Now Madonna is addressing the reactions and criticisms she received after presenting at the GRAMMYs.
In a lengthy post on Instagram, the longtime LGBTQ advocate first shared her excitement for being a part of Petras and Smith’s moment as the two artists took home the award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the hit song “Unholy.” The win was historical for Petras, who became the first transgender woman to ever win a GRAMMY.
“It was an honor for me to introduce Kim Petras and Sam Smith at the Grammys. I wanted to give the last award, which was Album of the Year, but I thought it was more important that I present the first trans-woman performing at the Grammys— a History-making moment!! And on top of that, she won a Grammy!! ♥️” Madonna captioned alongside a video featuring her hanging out with various celebrities as Petras and Smith’s “Unholy” plays on in the background.
Madonna then segued her online letter by firing back at those who only focused on her physical appearance, adding that she believed folks should’ve been more invested in her speech, rather than her face. She also pointed out the photographer’s role and how his/her choice of a camera can make people look different from certain angles.
“Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech, which was about giving thanks for the fearlessness of artists like Sam and Kim, many people chose to only talk about close-up photos of me taken with a long lens camera by a press photographer that would distort anyone’s face!!” She captioned.
Madonna also didn’t hold back when addressing the pressures she faces as a woman over the age of 45, telling fans their remarks were a result of “ageism” and “misogyny.”
“Once again, I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in. A world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45 and feels the need to punish her if she continues to be strong-willed, hard-working, and adventurous,” Madonna wrote.
She continued, “I have never apologized for any of the creative choices I have made nor the way that I look or dress, and I’m not going to start. I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career, but I understand that this is all a test, and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come.”
Madonna Concluded Her Statement With A Quote By Beyoncé
Madonna, who has won seven GRAMMYS and has been nominated 28 times for the golden gramophone, closed her post with a simple quote from Beyoncé.
“In the words of Beyoncé, “You won’t break my soul,” she captioned. “I look forward to many more years of subversive behavior -pushing boundaries, standing up to the patriarchy, and, most of all, enjoying my life.”
“Bow down bitches! 💃🏼🪩🎤💄🎼👠,” she concluded.
Madonna Will Soon Embark On A Massive 35-City Tour
Additionally, the 64-year-old Michigan native recently announced her massive The Celebration Tour, produced by Live Nation. The 35-city trek, which features four decades of Madonna’s hits, begins on July 15, at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, and will see the superstar, visiting cities and locations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
“Come join the party! 🎉💃🏼🎵🕺🏾🎤” Madonna captioned the tour ad mat on Instagram, including the hashtag: #madonnacelebrationtour.
Madonna’s The Celebration Tour, which includes special guest Bob The Drag Queen (also known as Caldwell Tidicue), currently wraps on December 1 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, NL.
