Nicole Scherzinger's Trump hat controversy has no impact on Sunset Blvd. box office as ticket sales boom
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Nicole Scherzinger's Trump hat controversy has not dented the ticket sale boom for her acclaimed Broadway run in Sunset Blvd.
She set off an online furor last week over her comment on Russell Brand's Instagram post the day of Donald Trump's election victory.
Russell, 49, put up a picture of himself wearing a cap that read: 'Make Jesus First Again' in the style of a MAGA hat. 'God Bless America,' he wrote in the caption.
Nicole, 46, leapt into the comments and gushed: 'Where do I get this hat!!!?' prompting an explosion of outrage on social media as infuriated observers accused her of supporting the president-elect.
However the uproar did not dim the financial prospects of Nicole's Broadway show, which enjoyed a $134,498 increase in revenue that week, according to Deadline.
Nicole Scherzinger 's Trump hat controversy has not dented the ticket sale boom for her acclaimed Broadway run in Sunset Boulevard
The production grossed $1,857,562 over the course of election week with the theater filled to 97% capacity, up from 95% the week before.
Sunset Boulevard was the number three show on Broadway last week, bested only by Wicked, which earned $2.5 million, and The Lion King, which earned $1.9 million.
After one performance last week, in the wake of her Instagram scandal, Nicole was booed by a few members of the audience.
Some social media users have vowed to only go to see the musical on a Sunday - the day of the week when an understudy goes on in Nicole's place.
Nicole has broken her silence after being slammed for 'coming out as a Donald Trump supporter' due to her comment on Russell Brand's election post.
The Pussycat Dolls alumna - who has had a history of puzzling political takes - took to her Instagram Story on Friday evening to address the controversy.
She 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 46-year-old singer and actress - who has had a history of puzzling political takes - took to her Instagram Story on Friday evening to address the controversy
Just days ago Nicole angered fans after she gave Russell Brand's 'Make Jesus First Again' the thumb's up
The star went on to explain that though the general public has jumped to their own conclusions regarding what she meant by the comment it does not actually reflect what she believes is nor who she had voted for.
She explained: '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.'
Nicole continued by saying that the comment about the 'Make Jesus First Again' hat - which is a play off of the red Make America Great Again cap made famous by the Trump campaign - was merely a reflection on her faith and how she has turned to it in her times of need.
She explained: '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.
'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.'
Just days ago, she angered fans after she gave Russell Brand's 'Make Jesus First Again' her stamp of approval.
The photo was posted on Election Day and captured Russell, 49, proudly brandishing a red 'Make Jesus First Again' hat. 'God Bless America,' he captioned the post.
The star (pictured on Monday) went on to explain that though the general public has jumped to their own conclusions regarding what she meant by the comment it does not actually reflect what she believes is nor who she had voted for
Scherzinger, 46, showed her fondness for the MAGA-resembling accessory as she chimed in the comments: 'Where do I get this hat!!!?' along with the prayer hands and red heart emojis.
The Pussycat Dolls singer does not appear to have 'liked' the image and she has not publicly endorsed a candidate, but either way her appreciation for the hat sparked anger from fellow Instagram users.
DailyMail.com has contacted a representative for Scherzinger for comment at the time.
The original photo was shared before Donald Trump, whose slogan has been 'Make America Great Again', won the presidential election over Kamala Harris.
Instagram followers replied to Nicole with 'No, hun, this ain’t it at all.'
'F***ing hell, Nicole, not this,' another wrote.
'Nice, predator enabling,' another wrote. Last year, Russell was accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse dating back to the height of his career, with police investigating claims. Brand has vehemently denied all allegations.
Scherzinger, 46, showed her fondness for the MAGA-resembling accessory as she chimed in the comments: 'Where do I get this hat!!!?' along with the prayer hands and red heart emojis; Scherzinger pictured last month
On X, a follower tweeted of her remark: 'Nicole Scherzinger coming out as a trump supporter makes perfect sense.'
One quipped that the post may have hurt the Sunset Blvd. star's odds at getting a Tony.
'Well the Best Actress Tony race just got a little less competitive,' another tweeted.
Scherzinger was notably raised Catholic - in a 2019 interview with The Guardian she said she goes to church multiple times a week.
Scherzinger's comments sparked anger from followers
English actor Brand, meanwhile, has previously weighed in on American politics.
In June, before President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and his vice president Kamala Harris stepped in, Brand said he found it difficult to understand why 'freedom-loving' Americans would choose to vote for Biden over Trump.
In an episode of his podcast, 'Stay Free With Russell Brand', Brand expressed his dissatisfaction with the US presidential election.
Brand, who has been vocal against censorship, said he feels 'concerned' about the 'snobbery, contempt and condemnation' by liberals of Trump supporters who are 'plainly held by his detractors', adding that they have been responsible for the 'weaponization of the legal system'.
An X user remarked Scherzinger was 'coming out as a Trump supporter'
Another quipped Schzeringer's odds for a Tony decreased following her comment
'In a straight choice between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, if you care about democracy, if you care about freedom, I don't know how you could do anything other than vote for Donald Trump for precisely the reasons that they claim that you can't,' the comedian said.
He went on to say that 'they act as if a vote for is almost like you’re directly voting for Armageddon, like you see hysterical performances outside of courtrooms, endless MSNBC bombast.'
'But I’m starting to think that no, a greater threat to democracy is this kind of technological feudalism, that tells you that it cares about you and that it’s protecting vulnerable people, all the while increasing censorship, increasing the funding of wars, increasing the division between ordinary Americans,' he added.
