An army of “childless, cat-loving women” have taken to TikTok to respond to Sen. J.D. Vance’s past comments about women.
Yesterday, actress Jennifer Aniston made headlines when she took to Instagram to denounce the Republican vice presidential candidate’s comments after a video of the candidate uttering derogatory comments during a 2021 Fox News interview resurfaced online.
“We’re effectively running this country through the Democratic Party, whether that’s through corporate oligarchs or through childless catty women who are miserable about their lives and the choices they’ve made, and therefore want the rest of the country to be miserable, too,” Vance said.
Aniston, who is childless, shared the video on her Instagram Story, writing: “I honestly can’t believe the candidate for the next Vice President of the United States would say this. All I can say is… Mr. Vance, I hope your daughter is fortunate enough to have her own child one day. I hope she doesn’t have to resort to the second option of IVF, because you’re now trying to take that option away from her as well.”
Senator J.D. Vance speaks at a campaign rally in Ohio. “Childless cat-loving women” have rallied online to denounce Vance’s past comments about women. Senator J.D. Vance speaks at a campaign rally in Ohio. “Childless cat-loving women” have rallied online to denounce Vance’s past comments about women. Scott Olson / Staff / Getty Images News
Now, “childless cat-loving women” have taken to TikTok to fight back, in a new trend in which women are editing Vance’s speech into a TikTok sound, which has already gone viral on the app, where it has been used in 2,908 videos.
Cecelia Marie (@andherescecelia) of Los Angeles, California, along with other childfree American women, have been using JD Vance’s quote as background music in videos showing off their cats.
“Just a childfree cat loving woman who is the future of the Democratic Party,” Marie wrote in the caption of the video, which has received 139,200 likes and 636,100 views on TikTok.
She walked down the catwalk holding a black cat, drawing cheers from fellow cat lovers.
“Childless cat loving women unite,” one woman wrote in the comments section.
“His comments made me angry and sad at the same time. I was raised and loved by great aunts who never had children of their own despite spending their whole lives educating and raising them,” another woman said of Vance.
“Childless cat-loving women” hit back at JD Vance in new viral trend
Joining Marie was Lo (@lo_liz19), cat mom to Cheeto and Daphne, who used audio to share footage of her smiling and cuddling the grey and orange cats, which has garnered 87,700 likes and 545,900 views.
“Your heartbreaking smile is radiant and your cat is adorable,” one user said.
“You all look so happy. Cat-loving ladies, unite,” Laurie said.
“I’m a childfree, cat loving woman who loves her life,” Brandi Hoppek said.
Rescue cat owner Lucille (@lucilletherescue) also joined the trend.
“When will men realise it’s not an insult to be called ‘cat lady’,” she wrote on a video of herself with her black and white cat, which has garnered 60,700 likes and 236,000 views on the app.
The cat’s owner delivered a speech imitating J.D. Vance’s while Lucille rested on his lap.
“They really do keep perpetuating this ‘miserable cat lady’ shaming. They clearly don’t realise or accept that women are literally choosing cats over men,” commenter Shan said.
Swifties attack J.D. Vance online
Additionally, Swifties – fans of one of the world’s most famous childfree Catwomen, Taylor Swift – have also joined in the criticism.
“Don’t worry about it. Just enjoying life as a miserable, childless cat lover surrounded by good company like Taylor Swift and the current VP,” Megan (@atlmeagsnow) wrote in a selfie of her and her cat on X.
Pip (@pirateherojones) shared with X: “Miserable, childless, cat loving woman and her son called into duty. #Kamala2024 #SwiftiesForHarris.”
She posted a photo of a cat’s paw next to her wrist, where she was wearing a Taylor Swift friendship bracelet.
Taylor Swift performs at her Eras Tour show in London, England in June, as Swift fans join the viral trend of supporting childfree cat ladies. Taylor Swift performs at her Eras Tour show in London, England in June, as Swift fans join the viral trend of supporting childfree cat ladies. Kevin Mazur / Contributor / Getty Images Entertainment
Harris wasn’t the only Democratic figure named by Vance in his Fox News interview — he also called out Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Harris is a stepmother to two children born to her partner Doug Emhoff’s ex-wife, while Buttigieg adopted two children with his wife Chasten after Vance’s comments.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are approximately 23 million childless women in the United States between the ages of 45 and 64.
Americans are increasingly choosing not to have children: A recent Pew Research Center survey found that the percentage of adults under 50 who are likely to not have children is growing from 37% in 2018 to 47% by 2023.
The growing trend of childfree women is a sign of changing social norms in the US. As the numbers of childfree women grow, they could have a major impact on the next election.
Several women are using TikTok sounds to encourage people to vote for women in the upcoming election.
Shannon (@shannonx323) from Dallas, Texas shared a video of herself cuddling a gray tabby cat.
“#ChildfreeCatLovingWomenPleaseVote,” she wrote in text over the video.
“See you at the polls #childlesscatladies,” she wrote in the caption of the video, which has been viewed 61,100 times.
Vance’s sister defended him during the controversy, saying in a statement to CNN that the senator was a “testament to the women in his life.”
“It’s despicable that the media and Democrats attack it and assume that it’s not,” she said.
Meanwhile, Paul Begala, a former adviser to former President Bill Clinton, suggested Thursday that Trump could remove Vance from the position and choose former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, who dropped out of the presidential race earlier this year, to replace him.
Newsweek has reached out to TikTok users mentioned in the story for comment via TikTok.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, seeking common ground and finding connections.
