‘The View’ Defends Broadway’s Nicole Scherzinger: “People Are Losing Their Minds”

UPDATE, with video: The View today came to the defense of Broadway‘s Nicole Scherzinger against the “mob mentality” of social media, even saying the Sunset Blvd. star should not have apologized for liking Russell Brand’s MAGA-style “Make Jesus First Again” ball cap.

After View moderator Whoopi Goldberg reminded viewers during today’s Hot Topics segment that Scherzinger was raised in conservative Kentucky, is a devout Catholic and has supported the LGBTQ community, she asked her co-panelists for their thoughts on the online backlash.

All defended Scherzinger, whose performance as Norma Desmond has drawn rave reviews and Tony Award speculation. Her comment on Brand’s X page was criticized as, at best, tone deaf given that her recent stage success comes within a generally liberal Broadway community that views MAGA as detrimental to the rights of gay people and women.

Watch the segment above.

(View cohosts Joy Behar and Alyssa Farah Griffin were off today.)

“Emotions are so raw,” said co-host Ana Navarro of the post-election mood. “It’s overkill. 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.

“Every day I get thousands of people telling me to ‘go eat another burrito and go back to Mexico,” said Navarro (who is Nicaraguan-American). “I ain’t going anywhere.”

On Friday evening, Scherzinger posted a message on Instagram Story saying, “I deeply apologize for the hurt caused by my recent engagement with some social media posts. When I commented on these posts, I made the mistake of not realizing that they could be easily interpreted as being politically related and I apologize to anyone who understandably reached that conclusion.”

“She shouldn’t have apologized,” Navarro said, but added, “don’t go on social media if you can’t take the heat because people are crazy.”

Sara Haines also noted “the mob mentality on social media,” calling it “poisonous and toxic.”

“People are calling for her to not be nominated for a Tony,” Haines said. “This has gotten out of control.”

Said Sunny Hostin, “Emotions are so raw…but I think this is just ridiculous.”

Quipped Navarro, “Does this mean I can get tickets now for the show, because it was very sold out.”