Additional Coverage:
- Former MTV Star Says Madonna ‘Fully Embarrassed Herself’ at the VMAs: ‘It’s So Upsetting to Me’ (parade.com)
Former MTV personality Rachel Campos-Duffy voiced pointed criticism of pop icon Madonna during the premiere episode of Fox News’ new podcast, The Girls, which launched on October 1.
Campos-Duffy, who gained fame on MTV’s The Real World: San Francisco in 1994, joined co-hosts Harris Faulkner, Kat Timpf, Melissa DeRosa, and former ESPN host Samantha Ponder for the inaugural episode. The conversation touched on aging and cosmetic enhancements, prompting Campos-Duffy to reference Madonna, who celebrated her 68th birthday in August and recently made headlines with her appearance at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on September 27.
“How do you take care of your body, which is a gift?” Campos-Duffy questioned. “You want to be attractive and maintain your looks as long as you can, but when does it cross into extreme vanity?”
She and Timpf acknowledged their admiration for Madonna but expressed concern over what they see as an excessive approach to aging. Campos-Duffy remarked that Madonna’s VMAs performance was “fully embarrassing” and suggested that instead of using her platform to demonstrate graceful aging, the singer is imparting a different message.
Madonna’s VMAs appearance was notable, marking her first performance at the awards in 23 years. She shared the stage with Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX, delivering a set that included their collaboration “Bring Your Love” and “Danceteria Afterhours.” The Queen of Pop also secured seven awards, including Artist of the Year, entering the night as the most-nominated artist.
Later in the podcast, Campos-Duffy returned to the subject while reflecting on her personal aspirations regarding aging. “For me, I just want to age gracefully,” she said. “That’s why this Madonna thing is so upsetting-I admired her as a young woman and thought she was so interesting.”
She added, “There are certain women who are aging gracefully and others who aren’t, and I want to be in the former group.”
The discussion then expanded to explore what “aging gracefully” truly means and whether cosmetic procedures necessarily conflict with that ideal. Samantha Ponder questioned if aging gracefully implies abstaining from any interventions, while Melissa DeRosa emphasized the importance of “still looking like you,” noting that some women no longer resemble their younger selves.
Kat Timpf candidly revealed her openness to cosmetic surgery, stating, “I will be getting a facelift if I live long enough.” Campos-Duffy concurred, acknowledging that modern facelifts can appear more natural than in the past and expressed willingness to consider one herself.
DeRosa weighed in on Botox and lip injections, endorsing Botox as acceptable but calling for an end to lip fillers with a lighthearted public service announcement.
The Girls is the latest addition to Fox News Podcasts, offering a rotating panel of co-hosts who discuss a wide range of topics including politics, pop culture, relationships, parenting, careers, and finance. New episodes are released weekly on Thursdays.