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Females are uniting in defence of acclaimed star Zeta-Jones following she faced disparaging remarks online over her looks following a industry event.

The actor was present at a promotional function in Los Angeles recently where a TikTok interview featuring her character in the new series of Wednesday was overshadowed by discussion focusing on her age.

Voices of Support

Aged 58, Laura White, called the backlash "complete nonsense", noting that "men aren't given this sell-by/use-by date that women do".

"Men are free from this sell-by/use-by date which women face," stated Laura White.

Writer and commentator Sali Hughes, 50, stated in contrast to men, females are subject to unfair scrutiny growing older and Zeta-Jones should be able to look however she liked.

The Social Media Storm

During the interview, which was also posted on Facebook and attracted over 2.5 million views, the actor, who is from Mumbles, Swansea, spoke of the pleasure of delving into her role, the Addams Family matriarch, in the latest season.

Yet a significant number of the hundreds of comments focused on her age and were critical towards her looks.

This criticism ignited significant support for Zeta-Jones, such as a popular post online which stated: "You bully women if they undergo cosmetic procedures and criticize them for not having enough."

Others also came to her defence, one stating: "It's called aging naturally and she looks gorgeous."

Some called her as "stunning" and "so pretty", while someone else said that "she looks her age - that is reality."

A Statement Arrival

The winner attended on air earlier makeup-free to "prove a point" and to show the absence of a "mold" of how a woman in midlife ought to appear.

Like many women in her demographic, she stated she "maintains her wellbeing" not to appear younger but in order to feel "improved" and look "healthy".

"Growing older is a gift and when we do it as well as possible, that is what is important," she added.

Ms White stated that males are not held to equivalent beauty standards, stating "no-one questions how old certain male celebrities are - they simply appear 'wonderful'."

She explained it was one of the reasons behind her participation in the competition for over-45s, to "show that females of a certain age remain relevant" and "still have it".

The Core Issue

The author, a writer and commentator from Wales, said that while the actor is "stunning" that is "not the point", stating further she deserves to be at liberty to look in any way she chooses without her years facing scrutiny.

Hughes argued the online abuse demonstrated not a single woman is "immune" and that females should not face the "ongoing theme" which says they are not good enough or of the right age - a problem that is "galling, no matter the individual targeted".

Asked if men experience the same scrutiny, she responded "absolutely not", adding women were attacked just for demonstrating the "nerve" to be present on social media while aging.

An Impossible Standard

Even with the beauty industry emphasizing "youthful longevity", the author stated females are still judged if they age gracefully or opted for procedures such as surgical procedures or injectables.

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