🔗 Share this article Ladies Stand Behind the Oscar-Winning Actor Amidst Criticism Over Age Criticism Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones was subject to scrutiny regarding her appearance during a Netflix FYC event in November. Females are uniting in defence of Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones after she was targeted by scrutiny online regarding her looks at a recent industry function. She appeared at a Netflix event in Hollywood recently during which an online segment featuring her character in the latest the 'Wednesday' show was overshadowed because of remarks about her appearance. Widespread Backing Laura White, 58, labelled the negative reaction "complete nonsense", noting that "males escape such a timeline that women do". "Men are free from this sell-by/use-by date imposed on women," said Ms White. Writer and commentator aged 50, Sali Hughes, stated differently from men, females are subject to unfair scrutiny growing older and she ought to be at liberty to look as she wishes. The Social Media Storm Within the clip, also shared to social media and garnered over 2.5 million views, Zeta-Jones, hailing from Swansea, talked about her enjoyment in exploring her character, the Addams Family matriarch, in the new episodes. But many of the hundreds of comments focused on her age and were disparaging regarding her appearance. The online backlash triggered widespread defence of Zeta-Jones, such as a popular post from one Facebook user which said: "People criticize females when they get treatments and criticize them if they avoid sufficient procedures." Others also rallied in support, as one put it: "She is ageing naturally and she looks beautiful." Some called her as "beautiful" and "very attractive", and one comment read that "she looks her age - which is simply life." A Statement Arrival Laura White appeared without cosmetics for her interview as a demonstration. She appeared on air earlier without any makeup to make a statement and to demonstrate that there is no fixed "template" for what a woman of a certain age should look like. As with others her age, she stated she "takes care of herself" not for a youthful appearance but in order to feel "improved" and appear "in good health". "Getting older represents a privilege and when we live the best we can, that is what truly counts," she added. Ms White stated that males are not held to the same aesthetic benchmarks, stating "people don't ask the age of certain male celebrities might be - they only look 'great'." Ms White noted this was part of the motivation for entering the pageant's division for women over 45, to "show that women in midlife continue to exist" and "retain their appeal". Unfair Scrutiny Welsh beauty writer Sali Hughes says females face being frequently and unfairly judged as they grow older. Hughes, a writer and commentator of Welsh origin, stated that while Zeta-Jones was "gorgeous" this is "irrelevant", noting she ought to be at liberty to appear as she wishes absent her years being scrutinised. Hughes argued the social media vitriol demonstrated that no female is "immune" and that women do not deserve the "constant narrative" which says they are insufficient or of the right age - a situation that is "infuriating, regardless of the individual targeted". Asked if men experience equivalent judgment, she answered "no, never", noting women were targeted merely for showing "audacity" to be present on the internet while aging. A Double Bind Even with cosmetic companies emphasizing "longevity", Hughes said women were still judged regardless of if they grow older gracefully or opted for procedures including plastic surgery or injectables. "When a woman ages naturally, others claim you should do more; when you have treatments, people say you failing to age well," she remarked further.