Madonna ‘affected’ by criticism over face and returning to natural look for Celebration Tour

Madonna is determined to “look more like her old self” for her sold-out Celebration Tour – and has vowed to return to a more natural look after receiving heavy criticism for her changing appearance.

The 64-year-old music icon sparked a wave of plastic surgery speculation after she sported a drastically different look at the 2023 Grammy Awards in February.

And while Madonna has been quick to dismiss the criticism about her appearance – while denying all plastic surgery rumors – behind the scenes, an insider says she was deeply “affected” by the criticism and is taking steps to ensure she returns to her more natural herself before taking the stage for her first concert on July 15.

“Despite what people think, the criticism of her drastically different appearance is hitting her,” the source revealed to DailyMail.com, adding that Madonna is currently undergoing procedures that will restore her natural appearance.

“She sees and hears what people say about her and for the tour she wants to be more like herself again for her fans.”

And Madonna’s famous face isn’t the only thing fans will be treated to as she takes the stage for her 80-show tour.

According to the source, the chart-topping mother-of-six is ​​also planning to enlist her children — Lourdes, 26, Rocco, 22, David, 17, Mercy, 17, and 10-year-old twins Stella and Estere. her shows, with the insider revealing, “She’ll take them on tour and include them on the show.”

Madonna, who is notorious for her perfectionism, spares no expense on the tour because she knows it could be her last, the insider continued, revealing, “Madonna really turns it around. She is in incredible shape and is going to kill it with this tour.

“It might be her last tour, so she wants to make it perfect. She’s in incredible shape and her body is sick.’

“This is her labor of love,” the insider adds. “Her perfectionism scares everyone, but she doesn’t care. The crew is working their ass off because everyone wants to make her happy.

“She has no problem firing someone just like that.”

As for the show’s visual aesthetic, the insider tells DailyMail.com that she chose to go with a clean slate.

“She wanted younger dancers and this time she’s using a new crew,” they explained. ‘Madonna likes creative people who can take control. She’s not usually one to take suggestions and know what she wants.’

DailyMail.com reached out to representatives for Madonna, who declined to comment.

In addition, the source says The Celebration Tour, which will take her through several countries in North America and Europe from July 2023 to January 2024, will be “visually stunning and a delight for the senses.”

Back in February, Madonna shocked the world when she showed up at the Grammy Awards looking drastically different — sporting a bloated face with tight skin.

Two weeks later, she mocked herself in a slimmed-down photo with the caption, “Look how cute I am now that the swelling from the surgery has gone down.”

Six weeks after the awards ceremony drama, Madonna shared behind-the-scenes footage of the tour prep with her fans on Instagram.

In the post, the singer appeared to strip the filters and fillers, as she showed off a much more natural look.

In a separate recent video, Madonna looks very much herself strumming a guitar during tour rehearsal.

Over the years, Madonna has gained a reputation for being a tough boss to work for – especially when she’s on the road.

In a documentary about her 2016 Rebel Hearts Tour, she was completely unapologetic about this.

“I know I can be difficult and demanding and push you, and sometimes my ego is out of control, but I’m a Leo.”

In the film she also showed images of the grueling process that her dancers have to go through on tour. “She wants the best, and she wants people who work really hard,” a dancer says of Madonna.

Madonna announced The Celebration tour in January 2023. At the time of her announcement, she said in a statement, “I look forward to exploring as many songs as possible in hopes of giving my fans the show they’ve been waiting for.”

Upon her announcement in January, Madonna said in a statement, “I’m looking forward to exploring as many songs as possible in hopes of giving my fans the show they’ve been waiting for.”

After the uproar caused by her drastically different performance at the February Grammys, she addressed the haters by saying she “won’t begin” to apologize for how she looks.

“I wanted to present the last award, which was Album of the Year, but I thought it was more important that I presented the first trans woman to perform at the Grammys – a moment to make history,” Madonna wrote.

“Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech, which was about thanking artists like Sam and Kim for the fearlessness, many people chose to talk only about close-up shots of me taken with a long-lens camera. lens by a press photographer that would distort someone’s face!!’

“Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny,” she said.

“I’ve never apologized for the creative choices I’ve made or the way I look or dress, and I’m not going to get into it.”

She continued, “I have been relegated by the media since the beginning of my career, but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to break new ground so that all the women behind me can have an easier time over the years perish.’