Howie Mandel and the Aging Insult No One Wants to Hear The phrase "you look great for your age" has long been a staple of casual conversation, but for many, it carries an unintended sting. Howie Mandel, the comedian and judge of America's Got Talent, recently voiced his frustration with the comment during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark. The 70-year-old actor, who turned 70 in November, shared his disdain for the phrase, which he sees as a subtle insult. Mandel’s frustration became evident when co-host Kelly Ripa expressed surprise at his age, remarking, “That doesn’t make any sense.” Mandel responded with a quip: “What do you mean it doesn’t make any sense?” Co-host Mark Consuelos tried to soften the moment by praising Mandel’s appearance, saying he “looked great,” but Mandel dismissed the compliment. “I look great? That doesn’t mean anything to me,” he said. “I don’t like that because that’s a caveat. Because when you tell somebody you’re 70, they go, ‘You look great [for your age].’” Mandel likened the phrase to a backhanded compliment, comparing it to saying, “You’re smart for a stupid person.” He emphasized that such remarks reduce a person’s value to their appearance, especially when tied to age. Chloë Bean, a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in trauma, explained that the phrase can trigger shame by implying that aging is something to apologize for or avoid. “It reinforces the idea that aging is a negative, and that your worth is tied to how you look,” she said. The comment’s insensitivity extends beyond Mandel. Jennifer Aniston, the actress known for her role in Friends, previously expressed similar frustration. In a 2023 interview with British Vogue, she called the phrase “a habit of society” that reduces people to age-related labels.#jennifer_aniston #howie_mandel #mark_consuelos #kelly_ripa #chloe_bean
