Fresh off the praise for her Academy Award-nominated performance as Shakespeare's wife Agnes, Jessie Buckley has continued to draw attention for her powerful screen presence and rising career in Hollywood. And now, at the height of that popularity, Buckley once again finds herself at the centre of online chatter after a playful comment about cats.

What began as a lighthearted remark soon took on a life of its own, as many cat lovers online did not quite take the joke playfully, pushing the actress back into the spotlight for a debate she likely never expected to spark.

Jessie Buckley originally made a remark about making her boyfriend choose between her and his cats back in November 2025 during an appearance on Happy Sad Confused, but the clip resurfaced and began circulating again online during the final days of Academy Awards voting. While chatting on the podcast, Buckley joked about her feelings toward cats, sharing that she does not like cats as they are mean. 

“I don’t like cats… cats are mean,” Buckley said to Happy Sad Confused. The comment quickly went crazily viral among cat lovers online.

However, Jessie Buckley has now cleared the air around the viral remark, explaining during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that the cat-loving world may have misunderstood her comments and insisted that she is, in fact, a genuine lover of cats.

“I need to clarify something for all cat lovers in the world, I am a lover of cats" Buckley said.

It makes sense that Jesse Buckley wants to put out her best foot forward and avoid stepping on any cat tails as the Oscar edges closer, especially since her period drama finds itself in quite the cushy position owing to it being an emotional heavyweight.

‘The Madison’: Everything to Know About Taylor Sheridan’s New Western Series

With Jesse Buckley having calmed any ruffled feathers and Hamnet moving steadily towards the Oscar race, now is a better time than ever to acquaint oneself with the movie. 

 As evident by the Oscar nominations and other award season wins, Jessie Buckley has captivated audiences once again with Hamnet, a period drama based on Maggie O'Farrell’s bestselling novel, exploring the emotional story behind William Shakespeare’s family and the tragic loss of his son. In the film, Buckley portrays Agnes Shakespeare, the fiercely intuitive wife of Shakespeare, navigating grief and resilience, while sharing the screen with Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare, along with other cast members including Joe Alwyn and Emily Watson.

Following its theatrical rollout, the film has made its way to streaming platforms, with Peacock serving as its streaming home. With Hamnet having found a streaming home, and Jessie Buckley having rectified her comment about depriving cats of one, eyes are on whether the Oscar statue finds a home next to her BAFTA and Actor Awards trophy.

‘Sinners’ Director Ryan Coogler Shrugs Off Oscar Hype: “My Award Is the Opportunity to Have This Job”

What are your thoughts on the Jessie Buckley's viral cat comment? Let us know in the comments.