ABC/Ida Mae Astute; ABC/Lou RoccoThe View's mea culpa over negative comments made about a 2015 Miss America pageant contestant's monologue about being a nurse may have come too late, as two advertisers are yanking their ads from the show.
This week, the panelists sparked a backlash and the trending topic #NursesUnite after discussing the talent portion of the contest, in which Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson talked about being a nurse. Panelist Michelle Collins said her act was "hilarious" and that she "basically read her emails out loud," while co-host Joy Behar inquired as why she wore a doctor's stethoscope onstage.
Behar later said she wasn't aware Johnson was a nurse and had thought she was wearing a costume, adding, "It was stupid and inattentive on my part." Collins said the comments "got misconstrued" and that she and her co-stars "love nurses."
Healthcare firm Johnson & Johnson announced on Thursday it had "paused" its advertising on The View.
"Johnson & Johnson values and appreciates nurses and we respect the critical role they play in our healthcare system," the company said in a statement posted on Facebook on Wednesday. "We disagree with recent comments on daytime television about the nursing profession, and we have paused our advertising accordingly."
"We're committed to raising the level of awareness about the skill and knowledge that the profession requires, and we send our thanks today and every day to the millions of nurses who touch the lives of patients and their families. #NursesHeal #NursesUnite."
Egg distributor Eggland's Best has also pulled its commercials amid the controversy.
"Many nurses and dietitians have contacted us saying that they know Eggland's Best eggs are healthier and can play a big part in a family's healthy lifestyle. Eggland's Best appreciates nurses and values the important role they play in family health," the company said in a statement obtained by E! News. "In light of the comments about the nursing profession recently made on daytime television we will we will no longer be advertising on the show in question."
Eggland's Best believes in providing consumers the freshest, best tasting and most nutritious egg possible and we thank the millions of nurses across the country who work to improve the lives of their patients and families," the firm added.
The View and the Miss America Organization have not commented.
Johnson had talked about the #NursesUnite backlash over The View co-hosts' comments on The Ellen DeGeneres' show.
"To see it trend on Facebook and Twitter, especially to bring all these nurses together and have everybody standing up for our profession and giving them the voice that they deserve—they work so hard and they are life savers—that's all the message I wanted to give," she said. "It's about them; it's not about me."