Nicole Scherzinger came under fire from fans this week after she gave Russell Brand‘s ‘Make Jesus First Again’ hat her stamp of approval.
The singer – who campaigned for Democrat Barak Obama in 2008 – hinted she’d switched up her party support as she praised the comedian’s Election Day cap – which was a spin on Donald Trump‘s Make America Great Again slogan.
Showing her fondness for the accessory, Nicole, 46, chimed in the comments: ‘Where do I get this hat!!!?’ along with the prayer hands and red heart emojis.
While she has not publicly endorsed a candidate, fans were quick to criticise the singer, with many seemingly having assumed she was a democrat.
So what are Nicole’s political views? MailOnline takes a look at the Pussycat Doll’s views on key policies and players.
Women’s Rights
As former lead singer of raunchy girl group The Pussycat Dolls, Nicole has often been asked about her views on feminism and female empowerment.
Nicole does not identify as feminist, previously stating when asked: ‘I’m just for women. I’m also for the human race in general’.
She has made several comments championing women.
Nicole was once asked ‘Did the Pussycat Dolls encourage young girls to dress up like strippers?’
To which she replied: “The Pussycat Dolls got put under a lot of scrutiny but we were a group of women, not young girls, and we were empowered.
‘Our motto was “keep it sassy but classy.” Our videos weren’t raunchy in any way. The girls were professional dancers and the best at what they did.
‘I hope that isn’t the main message that came out of us. We were about female empowerment and owning who you are and having strength and confidence in that.’
Political Candidates
In 2008, Nicole publicly endorsed Barack Obama’s campaign by featuring on will.i.am’s Yes We Can – a promotional single for the democrat candidate.
Nicole was joined by a slew of celebrities and campaigners for the track, which featured lyrics made up from quotes of Obama’s concession speech in the New Hampshire presidential primary.
The song went on to garner over four million views on YouTube and win a daytime Emmy award.
Speaking about the experience, she shared: ‘I did his Yes We Can campaign before he got elected President. My friend will.i.am got me involved and I met him.
‘He was really nice, and I’ll never forget looking at my emails in bed and I was like: “What does that say? Is that an email from Barack Obama?! Thanking me?!”‘
Nicole was also hosted by the Obamas when she and then-boyfriend Lewis Hamilton were invited to the White House in 2014 to celebrate the work of Special Olympics, for whom she is a Global Ambassador.
In 2022, Nicole’s fans questioned her political views when she cheered on Rudy Giuliani while he competed on The Masked Singer.
When the former mayor of New York City and President Trump’s personal lawyer was unmasked as Jack in the Box, Nicole and fellow panellist – Fox presenter Jenny McCarthy – cheered him on.
In contrast, Ken Jeong and singer Robin Thicke reportedly walked off after the reveal.
Abortion
Nicole, who had a strong Catholic upbringing and whose grandfather is a priest, is pro-life.
The X Factor judge previously admitted that her family is ‘really hardcore’ against termination because her mother had her at the tender age of 18.
Her beliefs are so strong that she nearly turned down the role of Penny Johnson in ABC’s TV remake of Dirty Dancing because the character has an illegal abortion.
She explained to The Daily Mail: ‘I was like a crazy thing because, my family, my Papa’s a Bishop and my family’s really hardcore against abortion.
‘So I got the role and I almost didn’t take it because I didn’t want to promote abortion, because my character has an abortion.
‘But I was like, hopefully they can learn from you know her ways and I can be a positive influence.
‘My mum got pregnant with me when she was 17 and had me when she was 18. She chose.
‘Her parents were never going to let her have an abortion. So I came out, so I just want to you know encourage everybody to keep your babies.’
Defence
While Nicole has not shared her views on individual conflicts, she has shown support for the military in a few ways.
The singer, whose stepfather served in the army, dedicated the Pussycat Dolls’ song Stickwitu to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
She has also shared her gratitude on Memorial Day, posting that she is ‘Eternally grateful for the brave men and women who serve for our great country!’
Climate Change
Nicole is passionate about working to tackle climate change.
In 2015 she collaborated with numerous other artists on the single Love Song to the Earth, which was released ahead of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
It was used as part of the global campaign to raise awareness on climate change.
She has also worked with Seaside Finolhu Maldives’ Coral Reef Propagation Project and championed ocean conservation.
