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Subscribe to RSSActress Ashley Judd denies plastic surgery rumors following criticism about her "puffy" face, says she was taking steroids for sinus infection.
In an exclusive interview airing tonight on “Nightly News,” actress Ashley Judd addresses recent criticism about her appearance, saying the negative comments about her "puffy face" were spurred by society’s objectification of girls and women.
In March, while Judd was promoting her new TV series, gossip magazines said Judd’s face looked fuller – and the rumors started swirling. One of Judd’s representatives told media outlets she had been battling an ongoing sinus infection and taking medication, but that didn’t stop people from speculating that she had had plastic surgery.
Judd addressed the rumors this week in an opinion article that appeared in The Daily Beast, writing that her appearance was due to taking steroids for a sinus infection.
“When I am sick for more than a month and on medication (multiple rounds of steroids), the accusation is that because my face looks puffy, I have ‘clearly had work done,’ with otherwise credible reporters with great bravo ‘identifying’ precisely the procedures I allegedly have had done,” she wrote.
This evening on “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams,” Judd -– who is currently starring in ABC’s new show “Missing” -- reflects on the criticism she’s endured throughout her prolific career.
“I think it’s hatred of women that invites the criticism. I think it’s the objectification of girls and women and this hypersexualization of our society that invites the criticism. It doesn’t have anything to do with me, really, and how I look,” she told NBC News.
Judd said after she took the steroids for her infection and appeared in public, “there was no presumption of goodwill.”
“The conversation went straight to, ‘Oh my gosh.’ And then I started to catch the double bind where, you know, my face looks puffy, 'She's had work,' you know? And then, look at the same image in a different interpretation by a separate set of people is, 'Oh, come on, she doesn't even have any wrinkles at all, she's clearly had work,'” Judd said. “So I look bad, I've had work. I look too good, I've had work.”
Watch the full interview tonight on "Nightly News."
Leave a Comment:
This is a common side effect of Prednisone. Nothing helps me breath well like Prednisone when I have sinus trouble, just watch out for the side effects. That aside, Ashley Judd is still beautiful and with a beautiful personality. Clearly, she needs no plastic surgery.
Just watched the Ashley Judd interview and this is the first time I have ever put something on line in regards to a public figure. I have always thought Ashley was a great and beautiful actress but her remarks are so beyond true. I work with people all over 65 and everyone ages differently but one thing is true we all age and we should look beyond wrinkles and fat because some of the most wonderful people I know are all over 90 and look great in their wrinkles.
This lady does not need any plastic surgery. She is beautiful and always has been. For the record 44 is far from old. People need to quit being so shallow and obsessed with looks. Looks fades with time for everyone so look beyond the surface and you will be much happier.
Saw her on Ellen and yes her faced looked puffy... read somewhere she'd been on steroids for the sinus infection... Ashley Judd is a beautiful woman, a good actor, and a wonderful humanitarian. She deserves a semblance of privacy... and why does everyone automatically think so negatively? I'm on chemo and all the meds have made my face is puffy and I have few wrinkles, does this mean I had plastic surgery or some other nonsense, too? I will continue to watch 'Missing' and admiring Ashley Judd as the straightforward, honest person I believe she is. JMHO... :) Have a great day everyone!
Good for Ashley! I love her! She's gorgeous, classy, intelligent, educated and honest. I'm appalled by the numerous idiotic, uneducated responses about her so called "puffy face". First, I'm sure every single one of the commenters could look themselves in the mirror and find themselves to be far under par and not "presentable" or "acceptable" in the name of "the media." With that said, I've experienced puffy face syndrome from prescribed medications as well, and I distinctly remember a comment from my very jealous and insecure sister's comments about how "puffy" I had become. To paraphrase, "oh you don't look ugly but..." - so I can understand on a very minor level. Ashley is simply gorgeous and the commenters who have anything negative to say are seriously searching for the negative of a very rare, elegant and gorgeous American woman.
Why is her face so puffy?
@thequestionisnt: Seriously?! What are you 2?
I am so so thankful to Mrs. Judd for speaking out. I went through the exact same thing a few months ago and am still recovering from high doses of oral Prednisone. My face became super puffy and I gained so much water weight people thought I was pregnant. Everyone kept staring at me and I could see them whispering at work about how I'd "let myself go". I hadn't. It was a side effect of the medication, and now that I'm on much lower doses, I have slimmed down and the puffiness in my face has gone away.
I can't even imagine how it would feel to be here, to have cameras following me or having my puffied face plastered all over tabloids and in the news. It has to be awful. So good for her for speaking out! No one should be criticized for how they look, I don't care what sex they are. Especially when those pointing fingers don't have the facts. If you're concerned about someone's health, be concerned. Be kind. Don't judge or hate on them.
Ashley- thank YOU!
Dear Ashley Judd, I have just become a fan. It takes great resolve, intelligence, and integrity to start a conversation that will inevitably (albeit unjustly) set oneself up for public condemnation and ridicule. You have used your status as a well known celebrity to speak fiercely, openly, and articulately about one of our larger culture's most insidious social diseases. On behalf of my daughter, my mother, my friends, myself, and girls and women everywhere, THANK YOU. You ROCK!!!!
Ironic that all of the foolish expectations regarding appearance originate in Hollywood - Ashley's workplace. Everything she says is true, with the exception of "hatred of women" - subjugation of, yes; hatred, no.
America's ideas of beauty and age are ridiculous. Everything from high heels to hair color is just so much nonsense. I think people can age - we can gray and wrinkle and shrink - and still be beautiful. Why must everyone beat back death, so terrified of looking old? It's silly.
My woman has my permission to fall apart over time and I will love her like a rock. People could be so much happier if they stopped listening to other people and learned to think for themselves.
Steroids used for infections like Prednisone can cause some really nasty side effects including the ones Ashley has. If the only thing she got from them was some swelling then she got off easy. That is some nasty stuff.
I will say this though ... puffed up or not she is still a great actress, wonderful human being and a pure hottie from head to toe. I also know she likes me. I can tell because in her movies, she will, from time to time, look at me .......
I take Prednisone (steroid) quite often for my asthma, as well as chest colds and vasculitis (I'm a mess). It's a wonderful drug in relation to its ability to reduce inflammation, but the side-effects SUCK, as anyone who has taken it long-term, or large doses, can attest to. It causes (in most cases) the heart/breathing to speed up--if I take it at night, I'm up vacuuming at midnight. It also causes major swelling/weight gain, and in my cases as well as Ashley's, 99% of the gain was in my face. I feel for her because it's really disheartening to have a side-effect that is noticeable and that affects your appearance. Hopefully she's feeling better and it will slowly start to go away if she's off the drug.
I will always see her as Robin Lefler.
My issue with her statement is that this is something that only women and girls go through. There of course is still the belief that only men objectify women and that our society is misogynistic. Women objectify men as well and there are plenty of women who just hate men. Happens all the time. I of course agree with her right to stand up for herself but don't make it out as this is only something women got through.
You clearly did not read her essay. A quote:
In fact, it’s about boys and men, too, who are equally objectified and ridiculed, according to hetereonormative definitions of masculinity that deny the full and dynamic range of their personhood. It affects each and every one of us, in multiple and nefarious ways: our self image, how we show up our relationships and at work, our sense of our worth, value, and potential as human beings.
I agree that her ability to act should not be overshadowed by her particular appearance in any given week or month. As an actress, she plays a part, it could be of a very beautiful character or an unattractive character. We have seen Meryl Streep & Glenn Close play total opposites in a character role and the physical appearance shown was based on their excellent acting ability. That being said, I do hope she continues to grow older in a graceful manner. I think that maybe her mother & sister got roped into the illusion that no wrinkles at an older age looks better, when actually a well placed wrinkle brings character & beauty to both males & females.
Why is it anyone's business if she had work done or not? It's her life and her face. NO one has a right to criticize whether she had the work or not. More power to her if she did, she can afford it. More power if she didn't, so what she has NO wrinkles. The people who are being hateful are all so full of themselves and so jealous, it makes me sick. So you all need to get over yourselves.
"If the heats too hot, get out of the kitchen ". . ASHLEY........ When you had work done on your face and MAYBE other parts of your body. YOU knew there were going to be remarks / comments/ talk......... YOU HAVE TURN all THIS attention on YOURSELF, especially by " LYING..LYING..LYING " . . . . . . . . Your Mother has had Cosmetic Surgery and so has your sister had Cosmetic Surgery. . . . . . . There isn't one thing wrong with having that type of surgery. Millions of Doctors DO that type surgery and millions of people (women and men) go to those Doctors to get work done to themselves.... HOWEVER, you, Ashley, making up stories and lashing out at other, blaming other people, mostly women, for being jealous and medication, etc. etc. etc. bring your husband into it also, IS REALLY GOING A BIT OVER BOARD......Snap out of it...STOP THE LYING. YOUR FACE IS AS FAT AND ROUND AS A CHIPMUNKS . . . . JUST be thankful your surgery didn't turn out like Priscilla Presley's face did. . . . . .