Gwen Stefani Under Fire for ‘Shocking’ Treatment of Terrified Kitten During ‘The Voice’ Premiere
PHOTO: TRAE PATTON/NBC/NBCU PHOTO BANK VIA GETTY
Gwen Stefani is facing significant backlash following her actions during the season 26 premiere of The Voice on Monday, September 23. The controversy arose after the singer introduced her new rescue kitten during the live show, leaving viewers stunned and concerned for the animal’s welfare.
The Hollaback Girl singer, 54, brought a six-week-old kitten onto the stage, holding the fragile animal as she spoke to the audience—a move that many fans found troubling.
The incident occurred after contestant Sydney Sterlace impressed the judges with a soulful performance of Olivia Rodrigo’s hit song “Drivers License.” In an effort to persuade Sydney to join her team, Stefani introduced the kitten, incorporating it into her pitch.
“You know Sydney… I had this little thing happen to me,” Stefani began. “This little creature came up to my porch and was barely alive and was like, ‘I love you, you’re my new cat,’ but I don’t have a name! Then I thought maybe I can name it Sydney.”
As Stefani’s excitement grew, she loudly proclaimed, “This cat’s name is Sydney!” while the visibly anxious kitten meowed in distress. What was meant to be a heartwarming moment quickly turned uncomfortable as viewers noticed the kitten struggling in her hands?
Viewer Outrage
Fans at home were quick to express their outrage on social media, criticizing Stefani for the way she handled the young kitten. Many were alarmed by how the animal, which had been separated from its mother just weeks earlier, appeared frightened by the noise and large crowd.
One user commented, “@gwenstefani love you to bits, but please never do that to such a young animal again. The noise, the way you held it like it was a stuffed animal dangling from your fingers, all of it would be traumatizing for such a very young kitten.”
Another viewer tweeted, “Please never let Gwen near an animal again. The way she kept hoisting that tiny, scared kitten sky-high above her head was horrifying. @NBCTheVoice.”
Fans continued to express concern about the kitten’s well-being, with one writing, “@gwenstefani I love you, Gwen, and so enjoy you on The Voice, but I wish I could help you understand how terrified that kitten was. It wasn’t taken from its mother that long ago, and then to be out in front of all the people and noise, it isn’t having a great start in life.”
Several viewers even tagged animal rights organizations, with one user tweeting, “Don’t bring that teeny kitten to the set of @NBCTheVoice. You’re traumatizing the poor little thing! What’s wrong with you?! @peta.”
Fans Draw Comparisons
Some users drew comparisons between Stefani’s actions and previous controversies involving her husband, Blake Shelton, suggesting a pattern of behavior. One commenter remarked, “Oh yes, I remember snowflake and yes, that’s what I thought of as soon as she brought out that kitten. Like husband, like wife.”
As the backlash grows, neither Stefani nor The Voice has publicly responded to the criticism. Fans remain divided, with some defending the singer’s intentions while others continue to voice their concerns over the kitten’s treatment.
