Candice Bergen got her claws out at the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards.
The actress, 78, took the Emmys stage to present the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, a honor she won five times for her portrayal of hard-nosed “FYI” news broadcaster Murphy Brown on the TV series of the same name.
Before handing out the trophy, Bergen took a swipe at Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance while alluding to one of the most famous moments from “Murphy Brown.”
Presenter Candice Bergen speaks on stage at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., September 15, 2024. REUTERS
Candice Bergen alluded to her “Murphy Brown” character getting involved in a public spat with then-Vice President Dan Quayle when taking a jab at JD Vance. Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“For 11 years, I had the tremendous privilege of playing the lead in a comedy series called Murphy Brown,” Bergen said.
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“I was surrounded by brilliant and funny actors, had the best scripts to work with, and in one classic moment, my character was attacked by Vice President Dan Quayle when Murphy became pregnant and decided to raise the baby as a single mother.”
“Oh how far we’ve come,” Bergen quipped. “Today, a Republican candidate for vice president would never attack a woman for having kids,” she added, sarcastically. “
“So as they say, my work here is done. Meow!”
Candace Bergen made waves on “Murphy Brown” when her character had a baby out of wedlock. ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection
Bergen was, of course, referring to Vance’s now-infamous remarks about “childless cat ladies.”
In July 2021, Vance appeared on Fox News and told Tucker Carlson 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. “
Bergen was the second person at the 2024 Emmy Awards to slam Vance.
Republican vice presidential nominee, U.S. Senator JD Vance (R-OH) visits “The Story with Martha MacCallum” at Fox News Channel Studios on September 11, 2024 in New York City. Getty Images
Republican vice presidential nominee, U.S. Senator JD Vance (R-OH) visits “The Story with Martha MacCallum” at Fox News Channel Studios on September 11, 2024 in New York City. Jae C. Hong/Invision/AP
Selena Gomez took a swipe at Donald Trump’s VP nominee during a segment with her “Only Murders in the Building” co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short earlier in the evening.
“Steve, let me say what an honor it is to be working with someone who looks like he’s fallen and can’t get up,” Short joked.
“And let me say what an honor it is for me to be working with someone who looks like a former women’s tennis champion,” Martin chimed in.
Gomez delivered the final punchline. “And let me say, what an honor it is to work with two men who are this far away from being childless cat ladies,” the actress and singer quipped.
Steve Martin, from left, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez present the award for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Gomez and Bergen also followed in the footsteps of Gomez’s best friend, Taylor Swift, who recently endorsed Kamala Harris for President, identifying as a childless cat lady as she did so.
“I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election,” Swift captioned a photo of her and one of her cats she posted on Instagram.
“I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them. I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos. I was so heartened and impressed by her selection of running mate @timwalz, who has been standing up for LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body for decades.”
Taylor Swift on September 10, 2024 endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the US presidential contest against Donald Trump, saying she was a “warrior.” AFP via Getty Images
“I’ve done my research, and I’ve made my choice,” she added. “Your research is all yours to do, and the choice is yours to make. I also want to say, especially to first time voters: Remember that in order to vote, you have to be registered! I also find it’s much easier to vote early. I’ll link where to register and find early voting dates and info in my story.”
She signed off as Taylor Swift, “childless cat lady.”
The 2024 Emmys were full of plenty other memorable moments.
Dan and Eugene Levy started the night with a dig at “The Bear,” John Oliver dropped some f-bombs while paying tribute to his dead dog, Henry Winkler inhabited his famed “Happy Days” character Fonzie, and Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman teased a new show.