Recently, Madonna employed sarcasm to get back at trolls after the heavy criticisms that followed her controversial appearance at the 2023 Grammy Awards. The Queen of Pop addressed the media backlash that trailed her attendance at the February 5 ceremony while posting a new photo of herself on Twitter.
“Look how cute I am now that swelling from surgery has gone down. Lol,” Madonna wrote in the caption alongside a photo that featured her rocking an oversized navy coat, ripped jeans, and tights with a baseball cap that had the inscription, “Spiritually Hungry.”
Madonna suffered a serious backlash
During the event, the seven-time Grammy awardee was invited to the stage to introduce the duo of Sam Smith and Kim Petra who won in the best pop duo/ group collaboration. “I’m here to give thanks to all the rebels out there, forging a new path and taking the heat for all of it,” she said describing Smith, who is nonbinary, and Petras, a transgender woman.
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However, several fans took to social media to share their confusion over her appearance. “Can’t wait for Madonna’s new film ‘Desperately Seeking Surgeon,’” one person taunted. “Me attempting to ignore the fact that Madonna has a whole new face. #GRAMMYs,” another fan tweeted alongside a video meme of Adele looking confused at a basketball game.
Someone else expressed their displeasure about the actress’s new look, “Whaaaaaat happened to Madonna’s face?! #GRAMMYs. This legit looks like a Madonna impersonator with pics of the [sic] real Madonna in the background. She really f–ked up her face.”
Madonna responds to her critics
Madonna responded to her critics two days after the event through a long statement via Instagram in which she told her trolls that they ignored her message while focusing on matters of little significance.
“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 [sic] a press photographer that would distort anyone’s face!! Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in,” the 64-year-old wrote. “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.”
She also further stated that she is a person who does not look up to people or the approval of the media for her life choices but only focuses on being the best version of herself. “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,” Madonna added.
“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. “In the words of Beyonce ‘You-won’t break my soul,’ 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!”