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Jessie Buckley Clarifies Cat Stance After Backlash
6 Mar
Summary
- Buckley clarified her anti-cat comments after a viral interview sparked backlash.
- She stated she is "a lover of cats" to appease concerned pet owners.
- The controversy occurred shortly before final Oscars voting closed.
Jessie Buckley, an Oscar nominee, has publicly clarified her position on cats following a recent controversy. In an interview, she revealed a dislike for felines, even stating she made her husband choose between her and his pets when they moved in together. This statement quickly went viral in the final days of Oscars voting, leading to widespread criticism.
Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Buckley declared, "I am a lover of cats." She expressed distress over the negative perception, stating the situation "weighed on me all day" and made her "feel sick." She explained that she identified as "probably a quarter cat and three-quarters dog" in a previous interview, but reiterated her affection for cats.
The controversy arose from remarks made during a November 2025 interview. Buckley recounted an ultimatum she gave her husband, Freddie Sorensen, who owned two cats, famously stating, "It's me or the cats." She also described cats as "mean," citing an incident where one of the cats allegedly defecated on her pillow.
Buckley, who married Sorensen in 2023, is a strong contender for the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Hamnet. Final voting for the Academy Awards concluded on Thursday, March 5, 2026, with the ceremony scheduled for March 15, 2026.
