Pink backs Madonna after star calls out 'ageist and misogynistic' Grammy critics

18 February 2023 , 21:27

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Madonna was criticised for her 'unrecognisable' appearance (Image: Variety via Getty Images)

Pink has backed Madonna after she called out “ageist and misogynistic” critics who slammed her appearance at the Grammy Awards.

We invited the US pop superstar - the most played female artist of the 21st century in the UK - to help us launch our brand new No Filter showbiz column.

And we couldn’t have asked for a more fitting guest editor than Pink - who is famous for her candid opinions, and cackles as she admits to us she has been cancelled “so many times.”

So it’s unsurprising that when it comes to icon Madonna’s very public recent takedown, she doesn’t hold back: “It’s unfair, it’s always unfair, and it’s ageism. The attitude is no longer that person has been amazing for so long, it’s all about bashing them and I hate it.

“Let’s just give the people the respect they deserve and have earned, and be a bit nicer. Can we all be a bit nicer? I want to be nicer, to myself and others.

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Pink stuck up for Madonna after the queen of pop called out 'ageist and misogynistic' critics (Getty Images for dcp)

“When a person walks out, the first thing I think is not: ‘Holy sh*t did you see their face?’ I don’t think like that. I think: ‘Holy sh*t, that person has been amazing for so long.

“It’s the same (with the bashing) of RIHANNA at the Super Bowl. Rihanna is one of the coolest people walking the Earth. She’s effortless, effortless cool.”

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Pink - who this week released her ninth studio album, Trustfall - has always been a vocal supporter of her fellow female artists.

So the controversy sparked when the now gender neutral Brit Awards produced all all male Best Artist category presents her with a dilemma.

Madonna at the 65th Grammy Awards (Getty Images for The Recording A)

Pink performing in 2000 (NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

She admitted candidly: “I’m kind of in the middle. I love it and hate it. I love it because of progress, I understand the intention and it’s a good one.

“But now it’s going to be harder, it’s going to be harder for the girls to get on the bill with the boys.

“It’s hard to answer, because I feel strongly about both things. I feel strongly about inclusivity and the conversation that’s happening about gender, but I’m also a feminist.”

She pauses to consider: “But,” she goes on: “I also think awards are kind of dumb anyway. It’s popularity contest. Everybody is doing f***ing great work at the moment, and there are so many great boundary pushing artists that I just want to give everyone a trophy.” We’re right behind her on that.

Laura Armstrong