Women Rally Behind the Oscar-Winning Actor Following Age-Shaming Comments

Females are uniting in defence of Oscar-winning actor Zeta-Jones following she encountered disparaging remarks across platforms regarding her appearance following a industry event.

The actor was present at a promotional function in Los Angeles on 9 November during which an online segment discussing her part in the new series of Wednesday was overshadowed due to comments focusing on her age.

Widespread Backing

Aged 58, Laura White, described the negative reaction "complete nonsense", noting that "males escape this expiration date that women do".

"Males escape this expiration date which women face," stated Ms White.

Beauty journalist Sali Hughes, 50, commented unlike men, females are subject to unfair scrutiny growing older and Zeta-Jones should be able to look however she liked.

The Social Media Storm

Within the clip, uploaded to Facebook and had millions of views, the actor, originally from Swansea, spoke of how much she enjoyed portraying her character, Morticia Addams, in season two.

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

The negative remarks ignited widespread defence for the actor, including a popular post from a social media user which said: "There is criticism for females if they undergo treatments and criticize them if they avoid enough."

Commenters also rallied in support, one stating: "She is growing older naturally and she looks stunning."

Some called her as "beautiful" and "so pretty", while someone else said that "she appears her age - that is the natural process."

Challenging Perceptions

The winner attended at the studio earlier with a bare face as a demonstration and to demonstrate that there is no fixed "template" for what a woman in her 50s should look like.

As with others her age, she explained she "takes care of herself" not to look younger but in order to feel "well" and be "in good health".

"Getting older represents a privilege and if we can live gracefully, that's what is important," she added.

She argued that males are not judged by the same aesthetic benchmarks, adding "nobody scrutinizes the age of Tom Cruise, George Clooney or Tom Jones might be - they only look 'wonderful'."

She explained that became one of the reasons for entering the pageant's division for women over 45, to prove that women in midlife are still here" and "still have it".

Unfair Scrutiny

The author, a writer and commentator from Wales, stated that although Zeta-Jones was "stunning" it was "beside the point", noting she should be able to look however she liked free from her age being scrutinised.

She said the online abuse showed not a single woman is "exempt" and that females should not face the "constant narrative" which says they are not good enough or youthful enough - an issue that is "maddening, regardless of who the victim is".

When asked if men experience equivalent judgment, she said "not at all", noting females are criticized just for demonstrating the "nerve" to be present online as they age.

An Impossible Standard

Regardless of cosmetic companies promoting "youthful longevity", she commented women were still judged if they age without intervention or chose interventions like plastic surgery or injectables.

"Should you grow older gracefully, commenters state more could be done; if you get procedures, people say you not aging gracefully enough," she concluded.