Republican vice presidential nominee, JD Vance, is reiterating his 2021 comments about “childless cat ladies” running the country, remarks that have ignited a fresh wave of criticism. This resurgence of the controversial statement is placing Vance’s views under increased scrutiny as the election season intensifies.
In a recent interview on SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show,” Vance addressed the uproar, stating, “Obviously, it was a sarcastic comment. I’ve got nothing against cats.” He shifted blame towards the media, accusing them of “focusing so much on the sarcasm and not on the substance of what I actually said.” However, critics argue that the substance of the comment itself is problematic and reveals a deeper bias.
The original remarks, made on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show in 2021, targeted Vice President Kamala Harris, then a prominent figure and now a leading Democratic presidential contender. Vance categorized Harris among the “childless cat ladies” supposedly governing the nation and aiming to spread their supposed misery. This generalization has been widely interpreted as a derogatory and sexist attack.
Expanding on his viewpoint, Vance asserted in 2021, “If you look at Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, AOC [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez], the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children.” This statement implies a correlation between not having children and being unfit to lead, a notion that has been heavily contested.
During his interview with Megyn Kelly, Vance attempted to clarify his stance, claiming, “It’s not a criticism of people who don’t have children. I explicitly said in my remarks … this is not about criticizing people who for various reasons don’t have kids. This is about criticizing the Democratic Party for becoming anti-family and anti-child.” This attempt at damage control has been met with skepticism, as many see his initial “childless cat lady” phrasing as inherently offensive and difficult to walk back.
Vance further accused the media of deliberately targeting him, saying they “want to attack me and [wanting] me to back down.” He maintained his core argument, stating, “what this is fundamentally about [is] the Democrats in the past five to 10 years, Megyn, they have become anti-family.” This broader accusation against the Democratic party is framing the “childless cat lady” comment as part of a larger cultural and political critique.
Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States, pictured in Washington D.C., the subject of 'childless cat lady' remarks by JD Vance.
The resurgence of Vance’s 2021 “childless” comments has indeed triggered widespread condemnation from various quarters, including celebrities, political figures, and even members of Vice President Harris’s own family. Critics are drawing parallels between Vance’s dismissive “childless cat lady” remarks and his known positions on abortion rights and reproductive healthcare, highlighting what they perceive as a pattern of anti-women and anti-family sentiments.
Actress Jennifer Aniston emerged as a prominent voice against Vance’s statements. In a strong reaction shared on her Instagram Stories, Aniston conveyed her disbelief, stating, “I truly can’t believe this is coming from a potential VP of The United States.” Her pointed critique amplified the public outcry and brought further attention to Vance’s controversial words.
Aniston’s criticism extended beyond mere disapproval. She added, “All I can say is … Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day. I hope she will not need to turn to IVF as a second option. Because you are trying to take that away from her, too,” directly linking Vance’s “childless” comments to broader concerns about reproductive rights and access to treatments like IVF.
Adding a personal dimension to the backlash, Kamala Harris’s stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff, responded to Vance’s remarks via Instagram. Emhoff challenged the “childless” label directly, writing, “How can you be ‘childless’ when you have cutie pie kids like Cole and I?,” referencing her brother Cole Emhoff. This familial rebuttal underscored the personal impact of Vance’s generalizations.
Ella Emhoff further emphasized the strength of her family bonds, stating, “I love my three parents.” Her comment accompanied an image of a statement from her mother, Kerstin Emhoff, which was released to news outlets. Kerstin Emhoff’s statement offered a powerful testament to Kamala Harris’s role in their family, saying, “For over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala has been a co-parent with Doug and I. She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present. I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it.” This personal endorsement from Harris’s stepfamily served to further undermine Vance’s negative characterization and highlighted the diverse forms that families can take.
