Whoopi Defends Pussycat Dolls Singer After ‘Make Jesus First Again’ Hat Reaction: ‘It’s Just a Hat’

“The View” co-hosts defended singer Nicole Scherzinger after she was targeted on social media for liking a Jesus hat that resembled the red MAGA hat worn by supporters of President-elect Donald Trump carry.

Scherzinger, who currently stars as Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard” on Broadway, is a former judge on the reality singing competition “The Masked Singer” who rose to fame in the 2000s as the lead singer of the all-female musical group, “The Pussycat Dolls.” .

She sparked backlash on social media this week after expressing interest in a red “Make Jesus First Again” hat shared by British comedian Russell Brand. Brand, who converted to Christianity this year, has expressed support for Trump.

Scherzinger responded to Brand’s post by asking, “Where can I get this hat!!!?” along with a praying hands emoji and a red heart emoji.

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Her post was reportedly deleted within 24 hours after receiving negative comments. Page Six reported that the singer later apologized in a post on her Instagram Stories on Friday, saying she didn’t want her comment to be interpreted as “politically relevant.”

“Many assumptions are made that do not reflect who I am, what I stand for, or who I voted for,” her apology continued.

“I believed that the posts I was engaging with were about encouraging people to choose love and faith – ‘putting Jesus first.'” For me, Christ embodies peace, compassion, Hope and – above all – unconditional love, especially for those who may feel it least at the moment,” her post reads.

Regardless, several social media users continued to call out Scherzinger in the comments under Brand’s post, prompting the co-hosts of the liberal talk show “The View” to speak out on Monday.

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“The View” defended Broadway singer Nicole Scherzinger after she was attacked for liking a red “Make Jesus First Again” hat that British comedian Russell Brand shared on social media. (Getty Images)

“I think people make a lot of it,” responded Whoopi Goldberg, calling Scherzinger, who was raised Catholic, “very religious.”

Co-host Ana Navarro agreed that the social media reaction to the singer’s post was “over the top” and people were “losing their minds.”

“It’s very rough on social media at the moment. “You can literally post a picture of puppies and people will attack you,” she added. “To me this is so ridiculous and stupid and she shouldn’t have apologized.”

Co-host Sara Haines called the mob mentality on social media “toxic and poisonous.”

Co-host Sunny Hostin agreed that it was “ridiculous,” pointing out that some theater critics suggested that Scherzinger, whose Broadway performance of “Sunset Boulevard” was critically acclaimed, received a nomination for the film based on the social media post could lose the Tony Award.

Social media users suggested Broadway actress Nicole Scherzinger’s comment in support of a Jesus MAGA-style hat would hurt her career. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

“I think it’s because the emotions are so intense right now, you know?” Hostin said. “I think people are rethinking how they’re going to engage and how they’re going to move in this society and so on – but I just think that’s ridiculous, but I think it’s really reflective of how people are feeling right now.”

Goldberg ended the segment by shutting down critics who called for the singer to be canceled.

“She is brilliant on the show. She liked a hat. “Relax,” Goldberg lectured. “She liked a hat on Jesus. I would think that would be a unifying thing… It’s the hat. It’s just a hat.”

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