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There is a groundswell of support in defence of Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones after she encountered disparaging remarks on social media regarding her appearance following a red carpet appearance.

The actor was present at a promotional function in LA last month where a TikTok interview discussing her part in season two of the 'Wednesday' show was eclipsed because of remarks focusing on her appearance.

Widespread Backing

Aged 58, Laura White, called the online criticism "absolute rubbish", stating that "men aren't given this expiration date which women face".

"Men are free from this expiration date that women do," argued Laura White.

Author aged 50, Sali Hughes, said unlike men, females are subject to unfair scrutiny as they age and she ought to be free to look however she liked.

Digital Backlash

During the interview, uploaded to Facebook and garnered more than 2.5m views, the actor, hailing from Wales, spoke of the pleasure of portraying her part, the Addams Family matriarch, in the latest season.

However many of the numerous remarks centered on her years and were disparaging about her appearance.

This criticism ignited a broad defence for the actor, such as a widely-shared clip from one Facebook user which said: "People criticize women if they undergo cosmetic procedures and criticize them for not having sufficient procedures."

Others also rallied in support, with one writing: "It's called aging naturally and she appears beautiful."

Some called her as "beautiful" and "lovely", while someone else said that "she looks her age - that's called reality."

A Statement Arrival

Ms White arrived at the studio recently with a bare face to "prove a point" and to show that there is no fixed "blueprint" of how a woman of a certain age should look like.

Like many women of her years, she explained she "maintains her wellbeing" not to look younger but to feel "better" and appear "in good health".

"Getting older represents a privilege and if we can age gracefully, that's what truly counts," she stated further.

Ms White stated that men aren't held to equivalent aesthetic benchmarks, noting "nobody scrutinizes how old certain male celebrities are - they only appear 'great'."

Ms White noted that became one of the reasons she entered the pageant's division the classic category, to "show that females of a certain age continue to exist" and "retain their appeal".

The Core Issue

Hughes, a journalist of Welsh origin, commented that although the actor is "beautiful" it was "beside the point", adding she deserves to be able to look as she wishes without her age facing scrutiny.

She said the digital criticism demonstrated that no female is "exempt" and that females should not face the "perpetual story" which says they are insufficient or youthful enough - an issue that is "maddening, regardless of who the victim is".

When asked if males encounter the same scrutiny, she said "no, never", adding women were targeted merely for having the "boldness" to live online while growing older.

A No-Win Situation

Even with the beauty industry advocating for "longevity", she commented females are still face criticism whether they aged gracefully or chose interventions including cosmetic surgery or injectables.

"When a woman ages naturally, people say more could be done; if you undergo treatments, people say you failing to age well," she concluded.