Joy Behar Apologizes To Nurses For Controversial Comments Made On ‘The View’

Joy Behar extended an apology to those in the nursing profession after making a controversial comment on The View earlier this week.

Joy Behar Apologies To Nurses

During The View‘s Hot Topics segment Monday, Behar had some things to say about Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson‘s talent portion at the 2015 Miss America pageant. Johnson, who works as a nurse, was clad in her nurses uniform and took the opportunity to deliver a monologue about the hard work she does every day. Behar was not impressed.

“Why does she have a doctor’s stethoscope on?” Behar quipped.

The joke sparked an incredible amount of backlash against the comedian on the Internet, leading to the creation of the hashtag “NursesUnite.” The social media movement demanded an apology from Behar, who had unintentionally insulted nurses with her ignorant comment.

“We are the frontline caregivers, 24 hours, 7 days a week, who are with individuals from birth, throughout their lifespan and at the end of life,” said American Nurses Association president Pamela F. Cipriano. “That’s why it was disturbing when Joy Behar 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.”

On Wednesday, feeling the heat of the controversy surrounding her, Behar offered up an apology. She claimed that the gaffe was a result of not paying attention, and not, as people have assumed, a dig at the nursing profession.

“I was looking at a Miss America tape, and there’s a woman wearing an outfit with a stethoscope, and I’m thinking is she in a costume? I didn’t know she was a nurse,” Behar shared. “I’m used to seeing [pageant contestants] in gowns and bathing suits. It’s not like I was trying to be funny. It was just stupid and inattentive on my part. I didn’t know what the hell I was talking about.”

“My son-in-law is a physician assistant, one of my nieces is a nurse,” Behar added. “So I mean I know they use stethoscopes, I just was not paying attention.”

The ANA has since accepted Behar’s apology. However, The View advertisers Johnson & Johnson and Eggland’s Best have paused their respective relationships with the program.

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