Madonna has hit back after she was trolled over her appearance during the Grammys at the weekend.
The 64-year-old pop legend introduced Grammy winners Kim Petras and Sam Smith on Sunday night (5 February), but many viewers took to social media to speculate about Madonna’s looks, with some branding her ‘unrecognisable’.
On Twitter, one person said: "If they didn’t announce that was Madonna I’d have no idea who this person presenting at the Grammys was.”
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While someone else wrote: "I had to pause and rewind, to learn who this lady was with pictures of Madonna on the screen behind her. Madonna at the Grammys was UNRECOGNISABLE!”
Now, the singer has hit back against the mean comments, saying she is ‘caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny’.
In a post on Instagram, Madonna shared a clip of herself partying with various celebrities, including Smith, and said her face had appeared ‘distorted’ on TV due to a long-angle lens.
Madonna started by saying it had been an ‘honour’ to introduce Smith and Petras with their ‘history making’ award, before continuing: “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!!
“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 went on to say that she had never apologised for her creative choice or ‘the way that I look or dress’ and that she wasn’t about to start now.
“I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career,” she continued. “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.
“In the words of Beyoncé ‘You-won’t break my soul’.
“I look forward to many more years of subversive behaviour - pushing boundaries - standing up to the patriarchy - and most of all enjoying my life.”
She finished the post by writing: “Bow down b*****s.”
Claire Reid