Nicole Scherzinger has “The View” in her corner amid political backlash on social media.
The singer was slammed last week for commenting on an Instagram photo of Russell Brand wearing a MAGA-inspired hat that read “Make Jesus First Again.”
“Where do I get this hat!!!?” Scherzinger wrote in the comments, prompting many users to believe she supported Donald Trump’s win in the U.S. presidential election.
She later apologized for “the hurt” her comment caused — which “The View” found “ridiculous.”
“She liked a hat,” said co-host Whoopi Goldberg on Monday’s episode. “Relax. Relax. She liked a hat about Jesus. I would think that would be the unifying thing, you know — because … it’s the hat. It’s just a hat.” The hosts pointed out during the segment that Scherzinger was raised in a conservative Catholic household.
“I agree with you, it’s overkill,” said “View” co-host Ana Navarro on Monday’s episode. “I think people are losing their minds. Right now social media is a rough, rough place to be. You can literally post a picture of puppies and there will be people attacking you.”
She added, “To me this is so ridiculous and stupid and she shouldn’t have apologized.”
Jeanette D. Moses/Variety/Getty Images
People were understandably confused when Scherzinger engaged on social media with Brand, who was once a beloved supporting actor in several popular comedies — but stepped back from the spotlight after facing numerous allegations of sexual assault. This year, he revealed he converted to Christianity.
Scherzinger issued an apology Friday and told Variety she didn’t realize her comment “could be easily interpreted as being politically related,” and concluded that these “presumptions” were in no way reflective of her as a person — “or who I voted for.”
Scherzinger, once a member of the Pussycat Dolls, currently stars in Broadway’s revival of “Sunset Blvd.” Goldberg noted that she’s “brilliant” in the part of Norma Desmond, for which Scherzinger reportedly received a six-minute standing ovation on opening night.
Many on social media are nonetheless still hoping Scherzinger does not receive a Tony Award nomination for her performance. “View” co-host Sara Haines said Monday the social media campaign “has gotten out of control.”
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“The mob mentality on social media is so poisonous and toxic and it just got power-checked in the last election,” Haines argued on the show. “You cannot go after people like this. Her Tony has nothing to do with what she’s doing on social media.”
Co-host Sunny Hostin suggested the backlash only arose because “emotions are so raw right now” and that people are “revisiting how they’re going to engage” with others after Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss in last week’s presidential election.