Madonna responds to Grammys criticism by condemning “ageism and misogyny” and quoting Beyoncé. There is no way you can destroy my spirit.

Madonna responded to critiques of her presence at the 2023 Grammy Awards on Sunday by quoting Queen Bey’s songs.

An outspoken Instagram post by Madonna on Tuesday addressed the controversy surrounding her appearance as she introduced Sam Smith and Kim Petras as they sang “Unholy.” Petras made history as the first out trans woman to win the award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the event.

“Instead of discussing the content of my speech—thanks to daring artists like Sam and Kim—many people decided to just talk about close-up images of me shot with a long-lens camera by a press photographer that would deform anyone’s face!!” In a series of Instagram posts, Madonna captioned photos of herself partying with Will Smith and Kim Petras. “Another day, another encounter with the pervasive ageism and sexism of our modern society. The world will not honour women above the age of 45, and she will be punished if she remains independent, hard-working, and adventurous.”

Madonna stated that she has “never apologised for any of the creative choices” she has made that have rocked pop-cultural standards, such as her unwavering support for the queer community, her pushing of the boundaries of sexuality in her art, and her use of music to criticise American government and culture, as she did with her controversial album American Life in 2003.

On February 5, 2023, in Los Angeles, California, Madonna takes the stage at Crypto.com Arena to present an award at the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
After presenting Sam Smith and Kim Petras at the 2023 Grammy Awards, Madonna gave a scathing speech against ageism. Photograph by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
I’m not going to begin,” Madonna said. “Since the start of my career, I have been subjected to constant denigration from the media. However, I know that this is a test, and I am more than willing to take the hit in order to pave the way for the generations of women who will follow. According to Beyoncé, “You won’t crush my soul.” I plan to continue my anti-establishment, boundary-pushing, anti-patriarchal, and, above all, fun-loving ways for a very long time.”

Alongside her forthcoming Celebration world tour, Madonna plans to bring highlights from her 40-year career on the road. The tour will open up in July with RuPaul’s Drag Race season 8 winner Bob the Drag Queen, who previously revealed EW how he met the global icon.

Bob remarked, “Lola, her daughter, recommended me for her Pride programme — recommended that I emcee the show, actually.” This was his introduction to Madonna. “My arrival brought me into close proximity with Madonna. A milestone birthday had just occurred for me. She celebrated my special day by buying me cupcakes and singing “Happy Birthday.””