Jennifer Aniston, star of the long-running sitcom Friends, has joined Pete Buttigieg in criticism of a controversial comment made by Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance.
The comment, made in a 2021 Fox News interview that has recently resurfaced, has provoked outrage in some quarters.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston was one of the stars of the popular TV sitcom Friends, which ran from 1994 to 2004.
She has been consistently one of the highest paid actresses, and has won several awards for her role as Rachel Green on Friends.
Pete Buttigieg
Pete Buttigieg is a former naval officer and prominent Democrat, who ran for president in the Democratic Party primaries in 2019.
He has served as the secretary of transportation for the ruling Democratic Party since February 2021.
JD Vance
James David (JD) Vance is an author and politician, who was recently picked as Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2024 Presidential Elections.
He wrote a bestselling memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, and is the first US Marine veteran to be nominated for vice president.
No Children, No Stake
Vance criticized a number of prominent Democrats, including Buttigieg, for their lack of children.
He questioned the lack of stake they have in the future of the US: “How does it make any sense we’ve turned our country over to people who don’t really have a direct stake in it?”
Childless Cat Ladies
Aside from questioning the lack of stake, he also employed a more colorful insult, describing them as “childless cat ladies”.
He said that the US was run by “miserable,” “childless cat ladies” that “want to make the rest of the country miserable too.”
Personal Attack
The controversial comments may also be seen as a personal attack on those who are childless not by choice.
Both Buttigieg and Aniston have spoken of their difficulties, despite their intention to raise children.
Buttigieg Responds
Buttigieg responded by pointing out that he and his partner had faced troubles trying to adopt, but acknowledged that Vance was unlikely to have known this at the time.
He said he and his husband had faced a “fairly heartbreaking setback” when seeking adoption but Vance “couldn’t have known that – but maybe that’s why you shouldn’t be talking about other people’s children.”
Aniston Shocked by Vance Comments
Aniston was shocked, not just by the content of the comments, but by their source.
She posted, on Instagram: “I truly can’t believe that this is coming from a potential VP of the United States.”
Troubles With IVF
Aniston has been open about her troubles with conceiving a child through in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Vance has moved to block guaranteed IVF access.
She wishes that someone had helped her plan for the future, saying: “I would’ve given anything if someone had said to me, ‘Freeze your eggs.'”
