The Substance is a social media phenomenon. The shock horror film allows Internet users to “decipher” celebrities: Demi Moore, Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Aniston… Not necessarily for the best.
The Substance “in real life”: celebrities scrutinized through a curious trend
The rest after the ad
“She took the stuff!”
This sentence may seem absurd or somewhat disturbing if you don't have “THE ref”. She has tirelessly returned to social networks for several weeks: this is how Internet users – especially across the Atlantic – are expressing themselves to describe celebrities who are strangely… “Rejuvenated”.
Jennifer Aniston, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lawrence, Lindsay Lohan… Reading the abundant comments flooding Insta and TikTok, all these stars have taken the famous “substance”.
To know? This green fluid at the heart of the eponymous film by Frenchie Coralie Fargeat: in The Substancehorror shock crowned at Cannes, Demi Moore appropriates this filter in order to find eternal youth, in the form of her alter ego (literally) Margaret Qualley. We have deciphered the emblematic nude scene from the film for you.
Seeking eternal youth? According to the Web, many actresses do the same, and this provokes ironic reactions from fans… Deciphering a trend, and its deviations that are far from exciting.
Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Lawrence… Behind the nod to The Substance, a big sexist phenomenon?
What do Jennifer Aniston, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lawrence and Lindsay Lohan have in common? Having taken “the substance”, if we are to believe the comments punctuating their latest photos on the red carpets, during galas, during their public appearances.
So much so that the English-speaking web is panicking: “Jokes about “The Substance” are taking over social media. Satire with Demi Moore has generated the greatest substance of all: memes! With the gag of a personality who allegedly “took the substance” as the main element“, rejoices Daily Dot. Memes are these visuals with a comical aim and viral potential which use a “catchphrase” in all flavors.
So much so that “The Substance Meme” has become a trend on TikTok, generating a number of videos and millions of views.
What is suggested behind these key words is obviously: these celebrities have resorted to a miracle solution to regain unexpected youth, in other words… Cosmetic surgery. And everything related to it. Internet users are obsessed with the faces of stars and make it clear. French actresses are no exception, we tell you about it in this mood post.
Finally, stars… Female stars. The vast majority.
Does this mean that this trend is absolutely sexist? This may be the beginning of a clue for you.
Under the joke, “botox shaming” and other body shaming aimed at “has-been” women in Hollywood
Phew, however, some observers protest, the “took the substance” running gag also affects these gentlemen.
Thus we could read that Gene Wilder, iconic British actor of the seventies (he played Willy Wonka in the most psychedelic version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) would have taken “the substance” in order to become Jeremy Allen White, the sex absolute symbol of The Bear series. Allen White who, moreover, does not necessarily escape sexism: a phenomenon which, contrary to what one might believe, can concern men, we tell you in this decryption.
And fans in unison noted this disturbing physical similarity between Matt Damon and a brilliant actor crowned at Cannes, Jesse Plemons – the star of Breaking Bad, Kinds of Kindness and The Power of the Dog. In unison, this joke refers to the “sons of” who look exactly like their famous father. It is rumored that Brad Pitt's 16-year-old son is the spitting image of his father: we tell you about it in this detailed close-up.
However, you will quickly notice that men are less caught by the collar.
History of, we recall that Coralie Fargeat's film allows itself for two hours to denounce the pressures and judgments which weigh on women, and even more those who fight against youthism by resorting to surgery…
Experience of the female condition that Demi Moore knows like the back of her hand. It smells like experience. Demi Moore who readily recalls how the pressures placed on her “sexy” physique made her suffer: she testifies to this very freely in this speech.
From there to saying that those who deploy the joke have somewhat missed all this discourse… There is only one step.
Where the circle comes full circle is when the statement returns to a star which is the matrix of this whole phenomenon. You guessed it: Demi Moore.
In his latest video which we decipher for you here, the “expert” Johnny Beteridge, pro of the physical changes of the stars, actually details with great detail the various surgical practices to which Demi Moore has been subject. Cervico facial lift, blepharoplasty correcting bags under the eyes, drooping eyelids… From 2019 to today, Demi Moore has become “unrecognizable” or “refreshed”, according to the specialist. “She has never been so young!“, some exclaim.
And Internet users, who in unison comment: “I want this surgeon's number, or rather, his money”, “she took the substance”, “it tires me: humans age, we just have to accept it”, “yes she looks perfect, it It's just a shame she doesn't look like herself at all.“. No comment.
