‘The View’ Defends Nicole Scherzinger Over Russell Brand Instagram Comment: “It’s Overkill”

The View hosts on Monday defended Broadway star Nicole Scherzinger after the singer-actress faced backlash for her comment on an Instagram post from Russell Brand.

Scherzinger’s Instagram account commented on a recent post from Brand, the controversial comedian and podcaster who faces numerous allegations of sexual assault, just days after last Tuesday’s presidential election. Brand’s post featured a photo of the comedian, who recently converted to Christianity, holding a red hat that said “Make Jesus First Again” with the hat resembling Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” caps.

In response to the photo, Scherzinger appeared to have replied in a since-deleted comment, “Where do I get this hat!!!?” The Sunset Boulevard star apologized for the comment on social media Friday, when she wrote in a lengthy statement that “many presumptions are being drawn, which do not reflect who I am, what I stand for, or who I voted for. Many of the marginalized communities feeling hurt and concerned by the results of the presidential election are people I care about most. I stand with them, as I always have, throughout my life and career. If you know me, you know that.”

She continued, “Like so many others, in times of adversity and uncertainty, I turn to my faith. I believe that the posts I engaged with were about encouraging people to choose love and faith.”

On Monday, The View co-hosts tackled the issue, defending Scherzinger. Whoopi Goldberg opened the discussion by noting that people were making “a lot” of the issue.

“Emotions are so raw,” co-host Ana Navarro said of 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.”

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

Co-host Sara Haines said the reaction seemed related to social media’s “mob mentality” and called the environment “poisonous and toxic.”

Haines also noted that Scherzinger — whose performance in Sunset Boulevard has been widely celebrated — is now facing a group of people calling for her to not be nominated for a Tony award. “This has gotten out of control,” she said.

Goldberg added, “She’s brilliant in the show. She liked a hat. Relax. She liked a hat about Jesus. I would think that would be a unifying thing. It’s a hat. It’s just a hat.”

Sunny Hostin also agreed that “emotions are so raw,” but that the situation seemed “ridiculous.”

The View co-hosts Joy Behar and Alyssa Farah Griffin were off Monday.