Oprah Winfrey takes veiled dig at JD Vance over 'childless cat lady' remark during surprise DNC speech

Oprah Winfrey made a surprise appearance on the third day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on Wednesday (Aug 21) much to the surprise of thousands of supporters gathered at theUnited Center.

The former talk show host instantly went after Republican vice presidential candidate, JD Vance, over his controversial 'childless cat lady' remark.

"When a house is on fire, we don't ask about the homeowner's race or religion, we don't wonder who their partner is or how they voted, no, we just try to do the best we can to save them," said Winfrey.

"And if the place happens to belong to a childless cat lady. Well, we try and get that cat out too," Winfreysaid to laughs and applause.

Winfrey took the stage as Tim Walz officially secured party nomination for the vice president post. Apart from slamming Vance, Winfrey also took veiled shots at the Republican party.

"There are people who want you to see our country as a nation of us against them, people who want to scare you, who want to rule you."

Watch |US Vice Presidential candidates Tim Walz, JD Vance agree to October 1 debate

What did Vance say?

Vance in a 2021 interview with former Fox News host, Tucker Carlson,had said that the US was being run "by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too".

After he was announced as Donald Trump's running mate, the video surfaced, leading to intense backlash with Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston calling out Vance.

However, the Republican leader doubled down on the criticism and defended the remark stating it was made in a sarcastic way.

"Apparently it was a sarcastic comment. People are focusing so much on the sarcasm and not on the substance of what I actually said. The substance of what I said, I'm sorry, it's true," said Vance.

Vance, father of three, said he was not criticising those who do not have children.

"The remark was about criticising the Democratic Party for becoming anti-family and anti-children. was trying to say that having children, whether as a father or a mother, is a life-changing event that significantly shapes your worldview in a pretty profound way."

(With inputs from agencies)