🔗 Share this article

There is a groundswell of support in defence of acclaimed star Zeta-Jones following she faced scrutiny on social media about her looks during a red carpet appearance.

Zeta-Jones attended a Netflix event in Hollywood last month during which a social media clip featuring her role in the new series of the 'Wednesday' show was overshadowed by discussion about her appearance.

Voices of Support

This year's Miss Great Britain Classic winner, Laura White, labelled the negative reaction "utter foolishness", stating that "men aren't given such a timeline that women do".

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

Author aged 50, Sali Hughes, stated differently from men, women were unfairly judged for ageing and the actor deserves to be able to look as she wishes.

Digital Backlash

In the video, uploaded to Facebook and had over 2.5 million views, the actor, who is from Wales, talked about her enjoyment in portraying her part, Morticia Addams, in season two.

But a large portion of the hundreds of comments zeroed in on her years and were disparaging towards her appearance.

This criticism sparked a broad defence for Zeta-Jones, including a popular post from a social media user which stated: "You bully females when they get cosmetic procedures and attack them when they don't have enough work."

Commenters also spoke up for her, one stating: "She is ageing naturally and she appears gorgeous."

Many labelled her as "beautiful" and "lovely", while someone else said that "her appearance reflects her years - that is the natural process."

A Statement Arrival

The winner attended for her interview recently makeup-free to "prove a point" and to show there was no set "template" for what a female in midlife should look like.

Like many women her age, she explained she "looks after herself" not to appear younger but so she feels "improved" and be "in good health".

"Growing older is a gift and if we can age as well as possible, that is what is important," she stated further.

She argued that men were not judged by identical aesthetic benchmarks, noting "nobody scrutinizes how old famous men are - they simply appear 'great'."

She explained this was part of the motivation for entering Miss Great Britain's category for women over 45, to prove that females of a certain age are still here" and "still have it".

A Fundamental Problem

The author, an author and presenter of Welsh origin, said that although the actor is "stunning" that is "beside the point", adding she deserves to be at liberty to look however she liked without her age coming under examination.

She said the social media vitriol proved no woman was "protected" and that women do not deserve the "ongoing theme" which says they are lacking or of the right age - an issue that is "infuriating, irrespective of who the victim is".

Questioned on whether men face identical criticism, she answered "not at all", explaining women were targeted just for showing "nerve" to exist on the internet as they age.

An Impossible Standard

Even with the wellness sector advocating for "youthful longevity", Hughes said females are still criticised whether they aged without intervention or opted for procedures including surgical procedures or injections.

"Should you grow older gracefully, others claim you ought to try harder; when you have procedures, you are criticized for failing to age well," she concluded.