Celebrate Madonna’s fitness

Re Madonna teeters dangerously toward a novelty burlesque act, April 11 Johanna Schneller writes: “I wish that instead of clinging to old notions of ‘hotness,’ you had showed us a new way forward, embracing that 55 is not 35 and shouldn’t be. Your light show is cutting edge. But your attitude — ‘Look how young I still appear!’ — is the opposite of evolved.”

Seriously? That’s not Madonna’s attitude. And she can do whatever she wants and not succumb to any stereotyped vision of how certain ages should look and act. Madonna has dance music and she has more serious, artistic music. Fans like both. I went to the show and was thoroughly entertained. It received great reviews.

Johanna Schneller has a right to her opinion but it makes your publication ageist and judgmental by association. We should celebrate an artist who loves what she does and is still wildly creative. Not bash her. Drew Barnard, Toronto

I’m not a fan of Madonna, but it seems that Ms. Schneller’s comment is ageist when she writes, “Madonna disappears to change her costume and, I imagine, rub Tiger balm on her aching joints while chugging Gatorade.”

Ms. Schneller assumes that people older than 55 have weak bones. I’m 71, and don’t feel any aching joints, even after I work out, which includes weightlifting. Delia Contreras, Brampton