"The View" nurse comments controversy happened a day after the Miss America 2016 talent portion. "The View's" talk show hosts Michelle Collins, Joy Behar, Raven-Symoné and Paula Faris had a back and forth last Monday regarding the beauty pageant's talent showcase, during which Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson performed a monologue wearing nurse scrubs and a stethoscope around her neck, according to E! Online.
Johnson delivered a speech in which she told a story about an Alzheimer's patient named Joe, who reminded her of the reason she took up nursing. Entertainment Weekly reports Collins made a comment about Johnson's speech on "The View," saying, "She came out in a nurse's uniform and basically read her emails out loud and shockingly did not win."
Behar, on the other hand, jumped in, asking, "Why does she have a doctor's stethoscope on?" to which Collins replied, "She helps patients with Alzheimer's, which I know is not funny, but I swear you had to see it."
The discussion on the popular daytime show spread like wildfire and sparked outrage on several social media platforms. The hash tag "#NursesUnite" and a Facebook page named "Show Me Your Stethoscope" immediately facilitated a strong online response, according to E! Online.
Even though Collins and Behar released statements of apology, the controversy remained. As a result of "The View" hosts' comments, companies like Johnson & Johnson and Eggland's Best pulled their advertisements out.
After "The View's" apologies were aired last Wednesday, Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, president of the American Nurses Association, released a statement (as reported by EW):
Nurses have a professional, ethical obligation to their patients, and are committed to transforming the health care system to achieve better health outcomes at reduced cost," Cipriano wrote, "That's why it was disturbing when Joy Behar, co-host of "The View," used her national platform and influence to mock Miss America contestant Kelley Johnson for wearing a 'doctor's stethoscope' while performing a dramatic monologue about her experience as a registered nurse during the pageant's talent competition, as if Johnson were wearing a costume."
Fox News reveals that, at present, a total of three companies have pulled their ads from the talk show -- Park City, Snuggle, and McCormick Spice -- following the lead of the two major businesses previously mentioned.
TMZ reports Fortune 100 company McCormick responded to an irate customer's comment on their Facebook page, posting, "Like you, we also value and admire nurses, so we have paused advertising on the daytime television show."
Snuggle, on the other hand, released a statement stating their appreciation for the work ethic in the nursing profession: "Please join us in thanking and celebrating nurses for the critical role they play in our healthcare system."