With the U.S. presidential election approaching in less than two months, it seems every joke these days carries a sharp edge. A prime example is Selena Gomez’s quip about “childless cat ladies” during the Primetime Emmy Awards.
Selena Gomez, along with her Only Murders in the Building co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short, presented the first award of the night—Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, won by Ebon Moss-Bachrach for The Bear. The trio exchanged humorous barbs, with Steve being teased as someone who “looks like he’s fallen and can’t get up,” Martin described as resembling a “former women’s tennis champion,” and Selena remarking, “what an honor it is to work with two guys who are this close to becoming childless cat ladies.” This joke was a clear nod to J.D. Vance’s notorious comment regarding Kamala Harris, where he claimed, “We’re effectively run in this country, whether it’s the Democrats or corporate oligarchs, by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable in their own lives.”
Vance had further stated in a 2021 interview with Tucker Carlson, “It’s just a basic fact — you look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC — the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children. And how does it make sense to turn the country over to people who don’t have a direct stake in it?”
This comment stirred significant backlash, especially among people without children and figures like Kamala Harris, who is a proud step-parent. The remark resurfaced when Vance was chosen as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential pick, reigniting the debate with several celebrities entering the conversation.
Taylor Swift, for instance, voiced her support for Kamala Harris last week, referencing the “cat lady” comment in an Instagram post. Sharing a photo with her cat, Swift wrote, “I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them… With love and hope, Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady.” Similarly, journalist Elizabeth Day shared her support in July with a post of her own cat, captioning it, “Childless cat lady stepmother over here! Hi @kamalaharris you’ve got this.”
Jennifer Aniston also weighed in, addressing Vance’s misogynistic undertones on her Instagram story, stating, “I truly can’t believe this is coming from a potential VP of the United States. All I can say is… Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day.”
Now it seems the cast of Only Murders in the Building has joined the growing list of critics, turning Vance’s comment into a laugh-out-loud moment. The Netflix series, launched in 2021, follows three strangers with a shared interest in true crime, who find themselves embroiled in a mystery. Although the show didn’t claim any major wins at the Emmys, their joke landed perfectly with the live audience and, naturally, sparked a buzz on the internet.
Nikki Peach, a writer for Grazia UK, covers pop culture, TV, and current affairs. She has contributed to outlets such as the i, i-D, and the New Statesman Media Group, and tackles both high and lowbrow television with equal enthusiasm.
