Hi Uma, I'm sorry to hear this! If you use the sponge without the natural loofa you should be able to use it without any rigidness (after hydrating it).
“I generally prefer dish cloths to sponges but I absolutely love these sponges - the perfect density and absorbancy for washing dishes (with my Koh dish spray of course) or wiping the bench and chopping boards and gentle enough to wipe over my new ceramic glass induction cooktop.”
