Candice Bergen targeted JD Vance at the Emmy Awards this past weekend, appearing to equate him to former Vice President and GOP figure Dan Quayle. Bergen, who played Murphy Brown in the sitcom that criticized traditional family values, suggested that Vance's comments about "childless cat ladies" were reminiscent of Quayle's critique of the show.
Renowned actress Candice Bergen used her platform at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards to deliver a subtle yet pointed dig at Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance, drawing comparisons between him and former Vice President Dan Quayle.
During her appearance as a presenter at the Emmy ceremony, Bergen alluded to Quayle's infamous criticism of the "Murphy Brown" sitcom in the 1990s. In a speech known as the "Murphy Brown Speech," Quayle denounced the show for its portrayal of an unmarried woman choosing to raise a child alone, arguing that it undermined traditional family values.
Candice Bergen Takes Jabs at JD Vance, Likening Him to Dan Quayle in Emmy Speech
Bergen referenced this incident in her Emmy speech, stating, "Oh how far we’ve come. Today, a Republican candidate for vice president would never attack a woman for having kids." Her comment was met with applause and laughter from the audience.
Bergen's remark was interpreted as a jab at Vance, who has faced criticism for his comments about "childless cat ladies" being responsible for America's woes. Vance has defended his remarks as a "joke" that was "taken out of context," but Democrats have seized on them as a sign of his misogyny and disdain for women who choose not to have children.
Candice Bergen Takes Jabs at JD Vance, Likening Him to Dan Quayle in Emmy Speech
The reference to Quayle was particularly poignant, as the former vice president had accused the "Murphy Brown" character of "mocking the importance of fathers by bearing a child alone and calling it just another lifestyle choice." Bergen's implication was that Vance's comments about "childless cat ladies" were similarly dismissive of women who do not conform to traditional gender roles.
Bergen's comments at the Emmys were not the only instance of celebrity opposition to Vance. Selena Gomez also took aim at the Republican candidate during her speech, joking about the "honor" of working with her "Only Murders in the Building" co-stars, who are "this far away from being childless cat ladies."
Candice Bergen Takes Jabs at JD Vance, Likening Him to Dan Quayle in Emmy Speech
Even Taylor Swift, who endorsed Kamala Harris for president, added her name to the list of Vance critics, signing her endorsement as "Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady" and attaching a photo of herself holding her cat.
The Trump-Vance campaign has not responded to requests for comment on these criticisms.
Candice Bergen Takes Jabs at JD Vance, Likening Him to Dan Quayle in Emmy Speech
Bergen's speech and the subsequent celebrity backlash against Vance highlight the ongoing debate about gender roles and family values in American society. The comments also underscore the growing opposition to Vance's candidacy among influential figures in entertainment and culture.
