Media personality Bonang Matheba’s loyal fans showed her some love when they stood in solidarity with her and clapped back at trolls who claimed that she now looks ‘old.’
The ageist opinions were made after X account with the username @Compaqllow shared a snippet of Matheba being interviewed at the Brutal Fruit Spritzer event called The Pink Table, which was held in Cape Town, with the caption stating that the businesswoman is starting to look her age.
The 37-year-old Matheba has never been one to hide her age as she often embraces it especially during her elegant birthday celebrations, and her fans were angered by what they described as ‘uncalled for’ the comments made regarding her age.
@MjaySonobloom reacted to the trolls with confusion and asked “Kanti what was supposed to happen? Was she supposed to get younger?”
User @naytholo brought it home and commented “even our parents were once young.”
Other fans continued to praise Bonang for her achievements in the industry and applauded her for remaining gracious throughout her journey.
The debate that was followed by Matheba being criticised for her looks and age are not new in the entertainment space.
Most of the time, celebrities and media personalities are subjected to unrealistic expectations and compared to their colleagues who are viewed to be ‘aging like fine wine’ or not aging at all.
Amongst celebrities who have stood up against being held at ransom to be forever young include, American talk show icon, Oprah Winfrey, actor Drew Barrymore and South African-born award-winning actor, Charlize Theron, who challenged women to celebrate every age.
Another interesting element to ageism in the entertainment industry is that male celebrities are mostly complimented for looking older.
Meanwhile, despite the social media criticism, Matheba continues to break barriers in the world of fashion and entertainment, proving that ‘age ain’t nothing but just a number.’
