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There is a groundswell of support behind Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones following she encountered disparaging remarks on social media regarding her appearance following a high-profile event.

She appeared at a promotional function in Hollywood on 9 November where a TikTok interview about her character in season two of the 'Wednesday' show became dominated because of comments concerning her looks.

A Chorus of Defence

Laura White, 58, called the backlash "utter foolishness", noting that "men aren't given such a timeline imposed on women".

"Males escape this sell-by/use-by date which women face," argued Ms White.

Writer and commentator aged 50, Sali Hughes, said differently from men, women were subject to unfair scrutiny as they age and Zeta-Jones should be free to look however she liked.

Online Reaction

Within the clip, uploaded to Facebook and attracted more than 2.5m views, Zeta-Jones, who is from Wales, talked about her enjoyment in delving into her character, Morticia Addams, in season two.

Yet many of the online responses centered on her years and were negative about her looks.

The negative remarks sparked widespread defence for Zeta-Jones, such as a popular post from one Facebook user which said: "There is criticism for females for having too much work done and criticize them when they don't have sufficient procedures."

Others also spoke up for her, one stating: "It's called aging naturally and she looks gorgeous."

Some called her as "beautiful" and "so pretty", and one comment read that "she looks her age - that is reality."

Challenging Perceptions

The winner attended for her interview recently makeup-free as a demonstration and to show the absence of a "blueprint" of how a female in midlife should look like.

As with others her age, she stated she "maintains her wellbeing" not to look younger but in order to feel "well" and appear "healthy".

"Getting older represents an honour and when we age the best we can, that is what really matters," she stated further.

Ms White stated that males are not subject to equivalent beauty standards, noting "no-one questions how old certain male celebrities might be - they just are described as 'wonderful'."

She said it was part of the motivation she entered the pageant's division for over-45s, in order to demonstrate that women in midlife remain relevant" and "retain their appeal".

The Core Issue

Hughes, a writer and commentator of Welsh origin, stated that although the actor is "stunning" that is "irrelevant", stating further she ought to be at liberty to look as she wishes without her age coming under examination.

Hughes argued the online abuse demonstrated no woman was "exempt" and that females should not face the "constant narrative" which says they are insufficient or of the right age - a situation that is "galling, irrespective of the individual targeted".

When asked if males encounter equivalent judgment, she answered "not at all", explaining women were targeted simply for having the "nerve" to live on social media while aging.

A No-Win Situation

Despite the beauty industry emphasizing "youthful longevity", the author stated women were still judged whether they aged without intervention or chose interventions including cosmetic surgery or injections.

"If you age gracefully, commenters state you ought to try harder; if you get procedures, you're accused of not aging gracefully enough," she concluded.