Michael Tran/WireImage.com; George Pimentel/WireImageThe ever-scrutinizing public eye rarely, if ever, blinks, and this week it's Ashley Judd who's been caught in its sights.
The actress sparked a near-unanimous raise of the eyebrows this week when she appeared on a Canadian talk show to promote her new series, Missing. The issue?
Well, she looked a little...different. But it's not what you think...
Sure, even A-listers are entitled to a less than picture-perfect day, but Judd's appearance on CTV's The Marilyn Denis Show sparked speculation as to whether or not the uncharacteristic puffiness of her face was a sign that the otherwise natural-look beauty had perhaps gotten a teensy bit of work done.
And it goes without saying that the speculation was not always proffered in the most flattering of terms.
But it also couldn't be more off the mark.
"For the record, this is unequivocally not true," Judd's rep, Cara Tripicchio, told E! News. "Ashley has been battling an ongoing, serious sinus infection and flu. Therefore, Ashley has been on a heavy dose of medication to overcome it so she could get on a plane and travel to Toronto and New York to fulfill her commitment of completing four consecutive days of press to promote her new show Missing."
Judd herself tweeted as much this morning, writing, "Thanks to all asking how I've been feeling. still very sick (flu + viral infection in sinuses = wicked) but staying positive & having fun."
Hard as it may be in the wake of the speculation.
"This may have contributed to her face appearing 'puffy' on the talk show in Toronto, however anyone who is truly paying attention and not looking to perpetuate a ridiculous story can look online further at photos of her last night during an Apple Store event in NYC and see for themselves that there is zero sign of plastic surgery, puffiness, fillers, etc., that has become a silly and erroneous topic of conversation. Ashley is a natural beauty enjoying her 40's gracefully."
Now don't you feel foolish.
—Reporting by Sharareh Drury