Gwen Stefani reveals nursing new furry friend after facing backlash over handling kitten on 'The Voice'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton introduced their new furry family member, Corn Shelton, following Stefani's backlash for her treatment of a "terrified" kitten during the season 26 premiere of 'The Voice'.

On September 26, Stefani shared a sweet glimpse of her new rescue kitten on Instagram, expressing her gratitude that the little furball is alive after being found on her doorstep.

Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton's new kitten overcomes a rocky start

The adorable kitten, now proudly carrying the last name of Gwen Stefani's husband, Blake Shelton, and living in their Oklahoma home, didn’t have the easiest beginning.

According to Stefani, Corn arrived at their doorstep "so sick" and "hardly alive," leaving the family with little hope for his survival, as per Entertainment Weekly. 

However, as Stefani has demonstrated repeatedly through her music and personal life, love can truly work wonders.

With "a lot of love and nurturing," she reportedly nursed the fragile stray back to health and celebrated his recovery with a heartwarming video montage.

"We're so grateful that he's a part of our family," she beamed while images of Corn cuddling in his new home were shared with fans, as 'Birds of a Feather' by Billie Eilish played in the background.

The opening photo showed the tiny kitten sitting on Stefani's knee, wrapped in a blanket as she squealed excitedly behind the camera.

Corn made his Instagram debut on Stefani's account after the adorable kitten unexpectedly appeared during the season 26 premiere of 'The Voice' on Sunday, September 23.

However, Stefani faced significant backlash from viewers for her terrifying handling of the rescue kitten on the show.

Gwen Stefani faced backlash for 'unacceptable' holding of rescue kitten

During the season 26 premiere of 'The Voice', Gwen Stefani, 54, showcased her new rescue kitten on stage, holding it up to the audience in a bid to persuade contestant Sydney Sterlace to select her as a mentor.

After sharing the story of how the kitten entered her life, Stefani proposed naming it after Sydney. When Sydney chose Stefani as her mentor, Stefani joyfully raised the kitten in the air to celebrate, which sparked concern among viewers.

Despite the moment's excitement, viewers were outraged by Stefani's actions, urging for more responsible treatment of animals.

Fans criticized Stefani for treating the kitten like a "stuffed animal," calling her actions "horrifying" and "unacceptable," according to the Daily Mail, 

Many expressed concern for the kitten, saying it was far too young to be handled that way, especially in such a loud and overwhelming environment.

One fan wrote, "Please never let Gwen near an animal again. The way she kept hoisting that tiny, scared kitten sky high above her head was horrifying."

Another user penned, "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."

"I did not have Gwen Stefani torturing a kitten on my bingo card, but here we are. JFC what are @nbc and The Voice thinking?" said a fan.

Another user wrote, "Please don’t bring baby animals on and swing them around for entertainment. So sad to see that scared kitten."

"Gwen Stefani's disgusting kitten publicity stunt is unacceptable," said a user. 

While Stefani seldom posts about her pets on social media, she reportedly has another cat and two dogs named Betty and Ginger, along with farm animals on the ranch she shares with her husband, Blake Shelton, in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.

In April 2023, Stefani revealed that their cat had given birth to six kittens, sharing a clip on X and writing, "We were all there to watch — it was such an incredible experience!!"

Gwen Stefani has fully embraced farm life since marrying Blake Shelton in July 2021 and even owns her own tractor on their ranch.

In an April interview with NYLON Print, she talked about their life together on the farm.

For Blake Shelton, stepping into the role of stepfather to Gwen Stefani's children—Kingston, Zuma, and Apollo—has marked a new chapter in his life filled with unexpected growth.

"They've taught me something about myself that I never knew: I'm more than just a country singer or a goofy guy," Shelton revealed in an interview with People in 2022.