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Women are rallying in defence of acclaimed star Catherine Zeta-Jones after she was targeted by disparaging remarks on social media regarding her appearance at a recent red carpet function.

Zeta-Jones attended an industry gathering in LA last month where a TikTok interview discussing her character in the new series of the 'Wednesday' show became dominated because of remarks focusing on her appearance.

Widespread Backing

Aged 58, Laura White, described the online criticism "utter foolishness", noting that "men aren't given this sell-by/use-by date which women face".

"Men don't have this expiration date that women do," stated Ms White.

Author Sali Hughes, 50, said unlike men, women were unfairly judged for ageing and she ought to be at liberty to look however she liked.

The Social Media Storm

Within the clip, also shared to Facebook and garnered over 2.5 million views, the actor, hailing from Swansea, discussed her enjoyment in portraying her role, Morticia Addams, in the new episodes.

However many of the hundreds of comments centered on her years and were negative towards her looks.

This criticism triggered widespread defence of Zeta-Jones, such as a popular post from one Facebook user which said: "There is criticism for females for having cosmetic procedures and bully them if they avoid sufficient procedures."

Online users rallied in support, as one put it: "She is growing older naturally and she appears stunning."

Others described her as "stunning" and "so pretty", while someone else said that "she appears her age - that's called life."

Making a Point

She appeared on air earlier without any makeup to "prove a point" and to show there was no set "mold" of how a female of a certain age ought to appear.

Similar to numerous females of her years, she stated she "takes care of herself" not for a youthful appearance but in order to feel "well" and appear "in good health".

"Growing older is a gift and when we do it the best we can, this is what is important," she stated further.

She argued that males are not subject to the same beauty standards, stating "nobody scrutinizes the age of famous men are - they simply look 'great'."

Ms White noted it was a key factor she entered the pageant's division for women over 45, to "show that midlife women remain relevant" and "retain their appeal".

The Core Issue

Hughes, a journalist of Welsh origin, said that while Zeta-Jones was "beautiful" that is "beside the point", adding she deserves to be able to appear in any way she chooses free from her age coming under examination.

Hughes argued the social media vitriol showed not a single woman is "exempt" and that women do not deserve the "constant narrative" suggesting they are not good enough or young enough - an issue that is "maddening, irrespective of the individual targeted".

When asked if men experience equivalent judgment, she said "absolutely not", adding females are targeted simply for demonstrating the "boldness" to live on the internet while aging.

A No-Win Situation

Regardless of the wellness sector emphasizing "youthful longevity", Hughes said women were still criticised whether they aged gracefully or opted for procedures like cosmetic surgery or fillers.

"If you age gracefully, others claim you should do more; when you have work done, you are criticized for not aging gracefully enough," she concluded.