Nicole Scherzinger has apologized after facing backlash on social media Thursday evening after she posted a positive comment on an Instagram an post by Russell Brand in which he flashes a red hat reading “Make Jesus First Again.” Posted in the hours ahead of the U.S. presidential election, Brand captioned the post “God Bless America.”
“Where do I get this hat?” Scherzinger wrote in a now-deleted comment, alongside a prayer hands emoji and a red heart emoji.
In a statement posted to her Instagram story on Friday evening, Scherzinger wrote, “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.”
The former Pussycat Doll singer continued, “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. Like so many others, in times of adversity and uncertainty, I turn to my faith. I believed that the posts I engaged 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 the least right now.”
She concluded, “I come from a place of love, and I will always support values that bring us closer together. It’s so important we come together with compassion, and love one another more now than ever.”
Screenshot, @nicolescherzinger via Instagram
Many fans blasted Scherzinger after interpreting the message as pro-MAGA because the hat is reminiscent of Donald Trump’s signature red hats.
Furthermore, Scherzinger was criticized for engaging with Brand, who was accused of “rape, sexual assaults and emotional abuse” by five women in a joint investigation by the Sunday Times of London and Channel 4 last September. A subsequent lawsuit accusing the actor and comedian of another act of sexual assault was filed two months later. Brand has denied the allegations.
Scherzinger, who didn’t immediately comment when the controversy blew up on social media Thursday, campaigned for Barack Obama in 2008. She also revealed she is pro-life in a previous interview with The Daily Mail, explaining that she follows her family’s beliefs after her mother’s parents refused to let her get an abortion when she was 17 and pregnant with the future Broadway star.
Scherzinger’s performance as Norma Desmond in “Sunset Blvd.” has been hailed by critics and audiences as a masterpiece. Award pundits have predicted she will land a Tony nomination for her work.
The show transferred to Broadway in October after a hit run in London’s West End.