Oscar-nominated Irish actor Jessie Buckley has found herself at the centre of an unusual online backlash—this time from passionate cat lovers.
The star of the upcoming film Hamnet sparked anger after a story she told on a podcast recently started spreading across social media.
In the interview, Buckley talked about how she gave her partner—now her husband—a choice: it was either her or his pet cats. She explained that she made this “me or the cats” ultimatum because one of the pets seemed to dislike her and had even made a mess on her pillow.
The “cat brigade” on the internet did not take the story well. Many people called her heartless for making someone get rid of their pets. Some fans are even saying that this “kitty karma” might cost her the Best Actress award at the Oscars this month.
In many cultures, like in ancient Egypt, cats were seen as sacred protectors, and hurting one—even by accident—was a huge mistake. Cat lovers today seem to feel the same way, and they are using their “raised eyebrows” to show their disapproval. Buckley has tried to fix the situation by telling everyone she actually loves cats.
She even mentioned that she once tried out for the movie Cats to show she is a fan. However, many people aren’t convinced, feeling that she is trying too hard to change her image.
As the Oscars get closer, Buckley is learning that while she might have won the fight against the pets at home, winning over the internet’s cat lovers is much harder.
