‘The View’ Loses Major Advertisers After Hosts Mock Nurses

ABC’s The View has lost two major advertisers, after co-hosts of the show made critical comments about the nursing profession earlier this week.

Johnson & Johnson and Eggland’s Best announced Thursday they have withdrawn advertisements from The View after its hosts mocked nurses following the Miss America pageant during its Monday broadcast.

“Johnson & Johnson values and appreciates nurses and we respect the critical role they play in our healthcare system,” the company told TheWrap. “We disagree with recent comments on daytime television about the nursing profession and we have paused our advertising accordingly.”

Egglands’s Best was quick to follow suit, and released a statement saying the company has also pulled its advertisements from the show.

While most contestants on Sunday’s pageant chose to sing or dance for their talent, Kelley Johnson, Miss Colorado, took the stage in her scrubs and delivered a unique monologue about her experience working with an elderly Alzheimer’s patient as a nurse.

Johnson’s monologue hit home for many viewers of Sunday’s ABC broadcast, but the next morning, her performance was mocked by Michelle Collins, Joy Behar, Raven-Symoné, and Paula Faris on The View.

“The talent, though, I have to say, the woman who won sang opera, and she was incredible. Really good,” said Collins. “But then there was a girl who wrote her own monologue and I was like, ‘Turn the volume up, this is going to be amazing, let’s listen.’ She came out in a nurse’s uniform and basically read her emails out loud and shockingly did not win … it was hilarious.”

“Why does she have a doctor’s stethoscope?” asked Behar. “She helps patients with Alzheimer’s, which I know is not funny, but I swear you had to see it.”

Behar apologized on Wednesday for not knowing “what the hell” she was talking about, saying she was “just not paying attention” and didn’t realize Johnson was a nurse.

Behar also tweeted:

The American Nurses Association released a statement following Behar’s apology, which addressed the host’s “disturbing” decision to use “her National platform and influence to mock Miss America contestant Kelley Johnson,” reports People.

The nursing community has responded to “The View” hosts by creating the hashtag #nursesunite on social media.