Johnson & Johnson and Eggland’s Best have pulled ads from ABC’s “The View” in the wake of this week’s controversy over the daytime show’s hosts comments about nurses.
“Johnson & Johnson values and appreciates nurses and we respect the critical role they play in our health care system,” the company said in a statement to TheWrap. “We disagree with recent comments on daytime television about the nursing profession and we have paused our advertising accordingly.”
Eggland’s Best followed suit, saying in a statement, “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.”
A representative for ABC declined TheWrap’s requests for comment.
During the Miss America Pageant on Sunday, Kelley Johnson from Windsor, Colorado, walked out on stage in her nurse’s scrubs and delivered a unique monologue detailing her experiences in the medical profession with an elderly Alzheimer’s patient.
While the monologue sparked sympathy with many viewers of the ABC broadcast, the following morning Michelle Collins, Joy Behar, Raven-Symoné and Paula Faris mocked her performance.
“The talent, though, I have to say, the woman who won sang opera, and she was incredible. Really good,” Collins said. “But then there was a girl who wrote her own monologue and I was like, ‘Turn the volume up, this is going be amazing, let’s listen.’ She came out in a nurse’s uniform and basically read her emails out loud and shockingly did not win … it was hilarious.
“Why does she have a doctor’s stethoscope on?” Behar asked Collins, who replied: “She helps patients with Alzheimer’s, which I know is not funny, but I swear you had to see it.”
The nursing community definitely have not seen the funny side of the comments, sparking the hashtag #nursesunite in response.
Read both companies’ full statements below.
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson values and appreciates nurses and we respect the critical role they play in our health care system. 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.
Eggland’s Best
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. 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.