TL;DR
- Andrew Lloyd Webber adopted a Havanese puppy after the ‘Cats’ movie backlash.
- He humorously calls the dog his therapy companion.
- The film received widespread criticism for its CGI effects.
- Lloyd Webber expressed deep disappointment with the adaptation.
- His puppy now travels with him on planes.
Andrew Lloyd Webber, the legendary composer behind some of the most iconic musicals in history, is not shy about sharing his thoughts on the infamous 2019 film adaptation of his beloved stage production, Cats. In fact, he’s taken his disdain for the movie to a whole new level—by getting himself a therapy dog! Yes, you heard that right. After the backlash from the film, which he described as “appalling,” Webber decided to adopt a Havanese puppy, who now accompanies him on his travels.
In a recent TikTok clip from CBS Sunday Morning, Lloyd Webber quipped, “After the appalling Cats movie, I went out and bought myself a little Havanese puppy.” He further explained how this adorable pup has become his emotional support buddy on flights. “It’s my therapy dog on planes. I just write a note to the airline saying, you know, reason for dog on plane and put ‘Cats movie’. And they always come back saying, ‘No doctor’s certificate required.’” Talk about a clever way to cope with a cinematic catastrophe!
The Cats film, which starred a star-studded cast including Jennifer Hudson, James Corden, and Taylor Swift, was notorious for its bizarre CGI-heavy “digital fur” look. It quickly became a punchline in pop culture, and Webber’s reaction to it has been nothing short of entertaining. In a previous interview with Variety, he lamented, “Cats was off-the-scale all wrong. There wasn’t really any understanding of why the music ticked at all. I saw it and I just thought: ‘Oh God, no.’ It was the first time in my 70-odd years on this planet that I went out and bought a dog.” Ouch! Those are some serious words from a man who knows a thing or two about theatrical success.
Despite the film’s failure, Lloyd Webber remains a titan in the world of theatre, with a legacy that includes mega-hits like The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, and Jesus Christ Superstar. The original stage version of Cats remains one of the longest-running and most commercially successful musicals in history, proving that while the film may have flopped, the music and the magic of the stage continue to resonate with audiences.
So, while the world may still be reeling from the shock of the Cats movie, at least Andrew Lloyd Webber has found a furry friend to help him navigate the turbulence of fame and failure. Who knew that a little Havanese could be the best therapy after a theatrical disaster? Here’s to hoping that Webber’s next project is a little less traumatic and a lot more fabulous!
https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7623525765962861837