MADONNA
– ZERO FUCKS GIVEN!
AND WHEN IT COMES TO BIG, BOLD, HISTORY-MAKING MOVES, THERE IS NONE BIGGER AND NONE BOLDER THAN MADONNA.
No one has been so completely and utterly indifferent to what others think as she. And her audacity serves as indispensable inspiration to all of us.
Not too long ago, at the 2023 Grammy Awards, Madonna created quite the stir. The uproar had nothing to do with her speech, nor the controversial artists she introduced on stage, but focused entirely on her appearance. She was denigrated so vehemently that she took to Instagram with the following response:
"Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny. That permeates the world we live in. A world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45 and feels the need to punish her if she continues to be strong willed, hard-working and adventurous.
I have never apologized for any of the creative choices I have made nor the way that I look or dress and I'm not going to start.
I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come.
In the words of Beyonce "You won't break my soul".
I look forward to many more years of subversive behavior – pushing boundaries – standing up to the patriarchy – and most of all enjoying my life."
IT SEEMS NOTHING, CERTAINLY NOT AGE, WILL STOP MADONNA
Adjusting attitudes about women's appearance after we turn 45 is just one of the battles Madonna continues to fight – not just for himself, but for all of us.
She does not accept the status quo. She does not settle for less. And she certainly does not give a damn about the conventions that society attempts to impose on women when they reach a certain age.
Her extremely unfortunate fall from a staircase on stage in 2015 was, for example, also attributed to her "advanced" age, with critics saying that she should have cancelled her Madame X shows instead of appearing on stage with a cane to lean on!
[A] lot of people have said, 'Oh, that's so pathetic, I hope she's not still doing that in 10 years'.
I mean, who cares? What if I am? I mean, Is there a rule?
What are you just supposed to die when you're 40?
That's basically what everybody wants people to do.
I think it's stupid.
Put yourself out to pasture?
Why?
Life is long – people are living to be 100 years old – I don't get it.
- Madonna (quoted in Vogue magazine)
This tribute is to Madonna for her zero-fucks-given attitude
- her uncompromising determination to be who she is, and her fight against ageism, which still prevails in a big way.
Critics call her ridiculous.
They say she is embarrassing herself. That she does not know when to quit.
That she is trying too hard to stay relevant.
That she is seeking attention.
Yet despite this barrage of criticism, Madonna remains true to Madonna.
She expresses herself freely, shamelessly, unapologetically.
We should all be so brave and true to ourselves.