Nicole Scherzinger, Broadway’s latest comeback kid and the voice behind your favorite high-school-era bops, just found herself in the social media hot seat. Why? Well, it all started when she decided to hop onto Russell Brand’s Instagram post to praise his new hat—the kind of hat you might find in a deep corner of the internet or in a box of “Merch Ideas That Should’ve Stayed on the Shelf.” The hat reads: “Make Jesus First Again,” which sounds oddly political and, oh yeah, came right after Donald Trump secured his second term in the White House. Yeehaw.
The Hat That Launched a Thousand Cringes
Russell Brand, who has officially rebranded himself from “quirky comedian” to “full-on Trump cheerleader,” took to Instagram to model his “Make Jesus First Again” cap with a grin so big you’d think he just won the lottery (or maybe got free refills at his local juice bar). His caption? A simple but powerful, “God Bless America.” Cue eyeroll.
Nicole, who’s been dazzling audiences on Broadway with her comeback performance in Sunset Boulevard, decided this was the moment to let her inner hat enthusiast shine. Commenting under Brand’s post, she wrote, “Where do I get this hat!!!? 🙏🏽❤️,” which, as you may have guessed, was not what her mostly Broadway-loving fanbase wanted to see. It turns out Broadway audiences don’t always have “Jesus-Trump crossover merch” on their wishlist. Who knew?
The Comment Section: A Public Shaming Party
Nicole’s Broadway fans—most of whom probably keep their MAGA hats in a drawer called “Never Ever”—quickly noticed her comment and were, uh, not exactly thrilled. Responses flooded in. The replies ranged from “Nicole, sweetie, no…” (the virtual equivalent of a forehead smack) to the much spicier, “Are you serious, Nicole? Well done on sh*tting on 90% of your fanbase, you predator enabler.”
Now, here’s where things get juicier than a Broadway cast party at a 24-hour diner. Nicole has been unofficially crowned as the frontrunner for this season’s Best Actress Tony Award, and she was happily riding that wave until this comment came along. The theater critics, sensing blood in the water, quickly joined the backlash, with Time Out New York critic Adam Feldman posting a screen capture and commenting, “Well the Best Actress Tony race just got a little less competitive.” Ouch—that’s Broadway shade at its finest.
Cue the Delete Button
Realizing that perhaps her love for bizarre slogan hats may not be the hill to die on, Nicole apparently went on a stealth mission around 6 pm the next day to delete her comment faster than you can say, “I didn’t mean it!” But, as any celebrity who’s ever tried to erase a misstep from the internet knows, once it’s out there, it’s out there. The screenshot army is strong.
What’s Next?
Will this be the PR disaster that costs her a Tony, or just a blip on her road to Broadway glory? Stay tuned. In the meantime, here’s hoping she sticks to costumes and leaves the controversial merch to Russell. Broadway’s tough, but maybe next time she’ll remember: the internet never forgets, and the Tony voters probably won’t either.
Well the Best Actress Tony race just got a little less competitive pic.twitter.com/X7pPAPoyyY
— Adam Feldman (@FeldmanAdam) November 7, 2024