Madonna jokes about ‘swelling from surgery’ after Grammys reaction

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Madonna joked about “swelling from surgery” after she received criticism about her appearance at the 2023 Grammy awards. Madonna said that instead of focusing on “fearlessness of artists like Sam and Kim”, many people decided to criticise her appearance, which has led to support from her fans. “Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech which was about giving thanks for the fearlessness of artists like Sam and Kim, many people chose to only talk about close-up photos of me taken with a long lens camera by a press photographer that would distort anyone’s face,” she said. A world that refuses to celebrate women pass the age of 45 and feels the need to punish her if she continues to be strong-willed, hard-working, and adventurous.” Madonna pointed out that she’s 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”.