Selena Gomez Jokingly Refers toOMITBCostars Steve Martin and Martin Short as 'Childless Cat Ladies' at 2024 Emmys

Mar. 15, 2025

Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez speak onstage during the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 15, 2024.Photo:Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

Selena Gomezgave her bestieTaylor Swifta shoutout at the2024 Emmy Awards.The actress, 32, presented the first award of the night alongside herOnly Murders in the BuildingcostarsMartin ShortandSteve Martin. As Short, 74, and Martin, 79, gave each other grief about their age, Gomez jumped in with a timely dig of her own.“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, prompting Martin to hit back, saying, “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.“Gomez then quipped, “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 comment comes after Swift, 34, endorsedVice President Kamala Harrisfor president following her Sept. 10debateagainstDonald Trump. Swiftsigned the endorsement, “childless cat lady,” referencing Trump’s vice presidential pickJ.D. Vance previously using the phrase to describe Harris, 59.Vance’s remarks prompted backlash at the time. After Swift referenced the nickname in her Instagrampost, Harris' VP pickTim Walz proudly labeled himself a “fellow cat owner"as he thanked the pop star for the endorsement.After the joke that seemingly referenced Swift’s endorsement of Harris, Gomez’s costars shouted out that she’s a first-time nominee at this year’s show, prompting her to ask if it’s “awkward” that they are both nominated in the same category and technically competing against each other.“I don’t think so, I mean Steve and I, obviously, both voted for you,” Short said.“And Marty and I made an agreement to be fair that we would both vote for each other,” Martin said — though when his costar asked who he’d actually voted for, he was silent.Selena Gomez at 2024 Emmy Awards.Getty Images"But the Emmys are not about who wins or who loses,” Gomez interjected, which made Short and Martin crack up.“Oh! You’re young!” Short told her.“Honestly, do you see what I have to go through every day?” Gomez asked the crowd before the trio presented the Emmy foroutstanding supporting actor in a drama series toThe Bear’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach.Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, and Martin Short in ‘Only Murders in the Building’.Eric McCandless/DisneyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.SeePEOPLE’s full coverageof the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards as they’re broadcasting live on ABC from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Selena Gomezgave her bestieTaylor Swifta shoutout at the2024 Emmy Awards.

The actress, 32, presented the first award of the night alongside herOnly Murders in the BuildingcostarsMartin ShortandSteve Martin. As Short, 74, and Martin, 79, gave each other grief about their age, Gomez jumped in with a timely dig of her own.

“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, prompting Martin to hit back, saying, “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.”

Gomez then quipped, “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 comment comes after Swift, 34, endorsedVice President Kamala Harrisfor president following her Sept. 10debateagainstDonald Trump. Swiftsigned the endorsement, “childless cat lady,” referencing Trump’s vice presidential pickJ.D. Vance previously using the phrase to describe Harris, 59.

Vance’s remarks prompted backlash at the time. After Swift referenced the nickname in her Instagrampost, Harris' VP pickTim Walz proudly labeled himself a “fellow cat owner"as he thanked the pop star for the endorsement.

After the joke that seemingly referenced Swift’s endorsement of Harris, Gomez’s costars shouted out that she’s a first-time nominee at this year’s show, prompting her to ask if it’s “awkward” that they are both nominated in the same category and technically competing against each other.

“I don’t think so, I mean Steve and I, obviously, both voted for you,” Short said.

“And Marty and I made an agreement to be fair that we would both vote for each other,” Martin said — though when his costar asked who he’d actually voted for, he was silent.

Selena Gomez at 2024 Emmy Awards.Getty Images

Getty Images

“But the Emmys are not about who wins or who loses,” Gomez interjected, which made Short and Martin crack up.

“Oh! You’re young!” Short told her.

“Honestly, do you see what I have to go through every day?” Gomez asked the crowd before the trio presented the Emmy foroutstanding supporting actor in a drama series toThe Bear’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, and Martin Short in ‘Only Murders in the Building’.Eric McCandless/Disney

Eric McCandless/Disney

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

SeePEOPLE’s full coverageof the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards as they’re broadcasting live on ABC from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

source: people.com