Madonna is no stranger to controversies. Throughout her four-decade career, the pop star has faced a barrage of media criticism, disdain, condemnation, and disparagement for everything from her fashion sense and dance moves to her behavior on talk shows. Despite the criticism, the “Material Girl” always seemed to come out on top. However, after taking the stage at an awards show in February 2023, her physical appearance has gotten the entire world talking – and not just the media.

Icon of pop culture Throughout her career, Madonna has defied expectations and broken barriers. She is not only a gifted singer but also an all-around entertainer, actress, and pop culture icon. Madonna has given us many hits, defining the course of pop music and earning her the title “Queen of Pop.”

Madonna Louise Ciccone was born on August 16, 1958. Originally from Michigan, the aspiring singer moved to New York City in the late 1970s to pursue a dance career before finding success as a solo singer. The diva had a string of No. 1 hits in the 1980s, including “Papa Don’t Preach,” “Like a Prayer,” and “Vogue.” Her enduring popularity was bolstered later in life by even more successful songs. She had a comeback in the late 1990s with hits like “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina,” “Ray of Light,” “Frozen,” “Music,” and the duet “Me Against The Music” with pop princess Britney Spears.

The icon has not only served rocking tunes, but also great looks. Madonna has been known for her eclectic fashion sense and penchant for reinvention. Though not all of her fashion and beauty choices were well received, she was always praised for her willingness to take risks.

Madonna appeared on stage at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 5, 2023, to introduce Sam Smith and Kim Petras before their performance of “Unholy,” which went on to win the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award later that night. Madonna mentioned her contentious legacy in her introduction.

“You are definitely onto something if they call you shocking, scandalous, problematic, provocative, or dangerous,” she said. “I am here to thank all the rebels out here for forging a new path and taking the heat for it all,” she added. You need to know, all you troublemakers out there, that your fearlessness is not going unnoticed. You have been noticed. You have been heard, and most importantly, you have been appreciated.”

Madonna, as usual, eschewed the traditional ball gown in favor of an almost all-black ensemble. She paired a tailored blazer with a long, black skirt with a high slit with a crisp, white shirt and tie. She also wore fishnet gloves that were embellished with stacks of silver rings. Her hair was braided in four sections, two smaller ones hanging down the sides of her face and two larger braids pinned up into circles on the side of her head. She kept her make-up simple, opting for thick lashes, matte lipstick, and blonde brows.

Her fashion and make-up choices, however, did not steal the show that night. Instead, fans quickly took to social media to express how unrecognizable the “Holiday” singer’s face looked, with no wrinkles and puffed-up cheeks. Many chastised the singer for what they perceived to be an overzealous attempt to look younger through cosmetic procedures, which resulted in the unwanted transformation.

Viewers on Twitter were heartbroken for Madonna. Some compared her new appearance to a horror movie puppet, while others labeled her an “impostor.”

“What is going on with Madonna?” one tweet read, alongside a photo of Madonna and the Jigsaw puppet from the “Saw” movies.

Another viewer tweeted, “Letting yourself age gracefully is far more beautiful than plastic surgery,” above a photo of Madonna, 64, next to her mother, also 64.

“What has Madonna done to herself?” one tweet asked, followed by a circus clown emoji.

“I wish Madonna had never touched her face. There was absolutely no reason. She was going to look stunning as she aged. “She’s always been stunning,” another person said.

Madonna posted a video of herself in her Grammys outfit holding a horseriding whip on Instagram. Her followers, on the other hand, were not any nicer to her in the comments.

“She’s changed negatively. She’s collapsed in on herself, and I no longer see her as a force. She appears to require the intervention and assistance of loved ones… I used to adore Madonna, but she betrayed herself and her fans by becoming a follower of losers’ trends. “She should have aged with dignity, but instead chose to prove something she didn’t need to,” one supporter wrote.

Many, in a similar vein, censured her for following today’s extreme beauty standards, while others called out the environment itself for creating such pressure on women to conform to them.

“I don’t hate Madonna for causing this to happen to herself. I hate that we live in a society where she thinks she has to do this to herself,” a more sympathetic comment read.

What are your thoughts on Madonna’s Grammys look? Do you think she’s trying to fit in with today’s toxic beauty standards? Please let us know, and don’t forget to share this with your friends and family to get their thoughts.

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