The Grammys, replete with its bizarre musical set featuring satanic imagery, might have wrapped up last Sunday but the buzz is far from over.
In addition to non-binary artist Sam Smith’s performance, plenty of attention has also been paid to Ben Affleck for looking glum and Madonna for prompting spectators to wonder what happened to the former bombshell beauty.
The Queen of Pop caused quite a stir as the 64-year-old gave a speech while appearing to have undergone radical surgeries and treatments in a vain effort to retain some semblance of her former youth and beauty.
Instead, she drew comparisons to horror movie villains.
None of this is particularly uncharted waters for Madonna. As Trending Politics noted, “[t]hroughout her career Madonna has pushed the limits of artistic expression in mainstream music by incorporating socially and politically charged themes, as well as exploring sexual and religious subjects.”
“Her music, songwriting, and visual presentation have earned both critical praise and sparked controversy,” Trending Politics continued.
Rather than evoke the shock and awe she grew accustomed to during her rise to fame and prominence for such performances as “LIke A Virgin” or kissing Brittney Spears several years ago, the sexagenarian instead has evoked mostly pity.
“I’ll never understand why some women think it’s better to look like an alien freak than to just look like an older woman,” conservative commentator Matt Walsh said on Twitter. “There’s nothing wrong being older. We’re all headed there. Embrace your age with grace.”
Fox News Jimmy Failla took a more humorous approach, saying that “[s[he’s lucky the climate activists in the crowd didn’t come after her for all the plastic in her face.”
Another blue check made the more tragic, if not accurate, diagnosis of Madonna’s effort to combat the effects of aging.
“Madonna looks like an alien. Women should not strive to look like aliens. They also shouldn’t strive to be unrecognizable. Ladies, learn to love the face you have. The most beautiful women I know grow old without injected poison,” Jedediah Bila commented.
And then the memes appeared. Take a look at some of the on-point comparisons that made the rounds on Twitter.
Did the Ghostbusters get Madonna back into the painting at the end of the Grammys? pic.twitter.com/BC3g1iUE91
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) February 6, 2023
What is happening to Madonna pic.twitter.com/afdyPyoQjS
— Lauren Chen (@TheLaurenChen) February 6, 2023
While most comments poked fun at Madonna’s unexpected appearance, they did so only to point out something that used to be obvious. Namely, there is a dignified beauty and celebration of life in growing old. Cultures and societies around the world used to elevate the elderly for their wisdom, successful long lives, and contributions as grandparents.
Now, Hollywood and the secular West see the inevitable march of time as something to deny. Rather than look like she’s 64 and accept reality, she chose something else. Is she happy with how she looks? Does she really think this is an improvement? As an aside, it is admittedly stunning to think she’s only 64 given her career’s mileage,
Growing old is a blessing and certainly nothing to be taken for granted. Our lives can be irrevocably altered or ended without notice and in an instant. Rather than run away from old age, we should welcome it with gratitude and comfort.
Sure, we have a right to long for our childhood and youths, but what good is living in the past? If she is so focused on looking back, there is no possible way for her to enjoy living in the moment or planning ahead.
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