The View loses two major advertisers after mocking nurse contestant on Miss America for wearing a stethoscope

  • Johnson & Johnson and Eggland's Best have pulled ads from The View
  • Decision follows comments made by show hosts about nursing
  • Joy Behar questioned why beauty-contestant nurse Kelley Johnson wore a stethoscope on Miss America
  • Michelle Collins also appeared to mock Johnson's performance
  • Comments caused fury, with #NursesUnite becoming a trending hashtag 

The View has lost major advertisers after the show's hosts sparked national outrage by mocking a nurse contestant on Miss America for wearing a stethoscope.

Johnson & Johnson and Eggland's Best announced they are cutting ties with the ABC program following accusations it had trivialized the role of nurses.

#NursesUnite became a trending topic following a discussion on the daytime talk show about the beauty pageant contestant, Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson, who appeared on the talent section dressed in scrubs and wearing a stethoscope around her neck to perform a monologue about her job.

The hosts poked fun at her, with Joy Behar demanding to know why she had 'a doctor's stethoscope on her neck?'

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Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson is pictured on the screen behind The View hosts as they question why she is wearing a stethoscope 

Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson is pictured on the screen behind The View hosts as they question why she is wearing a stethoscope 

Michelle Collins also mocked Johnson, saying: 'She basically read her emails out loud and surprisingly did not win. I swear to God it was hilarious.

'(Johnson) treats patients with Alzheimer's, which is not funny, but you have to Google it (her performance).'

The comments caused huge upset among the nation's 3.4million nurses - who were quick to retaliate on social media with the hashtag #NursesUnite.

And it appears the campaign is working.

#NursesUnite became a trending topic after co-hosts  Joy Behar (left) and Michelle Collins (right) were accused of trivializing the role of nurses during their on-air discussion

#NursesUnite became a trending topic after co-hosts Joy Behar (left) and Michelle Collins (right) were accused of trivializing the role of nurses during their on-air discussion

Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson had appeared on the talent section of Miss America dressed in scrubs and wearing a stethoscope around her neck to perform a monologue about her job

Miss Colorado Kelley Johnson had appeared on the talent section of Miss America dressed in scrubs and wearing a stethoscope around her neck to perform a monologue about her job

Johnson & Johnson, a major advertiser with the ABC show said it had pulled its ads in the wake of the hosts' comments. 

The healthcare giant told TheWrap: 'Johnson & Johnson values and appreciates nurses and we respect the critical role they play in our healthcare system.

'We disagree with recent comments on daytime television about the nursing profession and we have paused our advertising accordingly.'

Meanwhile Eggland's Best issued a statement saying: '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.'

National Nurses United, the largest nurses' union in the U.S., told FOX411 that The View had 'trivialized the profession of nursing, referring to the nurses scrubs as a costume'. 

They also demeaned the role of the registered nurse (RN) by referring to a stethoscope as a doctor's instrument, a spokesman said.

Behar had demanded to know why a nurse had 'a doctor's stethoscope on her neck'
Collinsadded: 'She basically read her emails out loud and surprisingly did not win'

Behar (left) had demanded to know why a nurse had 'a doctor's stethoscope on her neck' while Collins (right) added: 'She basically read her emails out loud and surprisingly did not win.' Both hosts have now apologized

Hosts on The View have now made a grovelling apology to their viewers, claiming they didn't know Johnson was a real nurse. 

Behar added yesterday that she 'was not paying attention' when she made the comments.

'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?' she explained. 'I didn't know she was a nurse. I'm used to seeing them (the beauty contestants) in gowns and bathing suits.

'I didn't know what the hell I was talking about.'

Collins added that her statement had been 'misconstrued.'  

'We love nurses,' she said on Wednesday's show. 'We adore you. We respect you. You guys are wonderful. You're the most compassionate people. 

'I was not talking about nurses, we were talking about the talent competition, and it got misconstrued.'

'YOU PICKED THE WRONG PROFESSION TO MESS WITH': NURSES HIT BACK AT THE VIEW ON TWITTER

Matthew Stephany said: 'It takes absolutely no talent to host #TheView. I would love to see those ladies last 15 minutes in the ICU.'

Another nurse tweeted: 'Apparently @michcoll is now calling us 'Dr. Wannabes'... We are the eyes, ears and often hands of MDs but wannabes? #nursesunite.'

While one Twitter user said: 'I am a Nurse, and I am proud of my profession. I do way more than 'taking the doctors stethoscope'#nursesunite #NursesShareYourStethoscopes.'

Nicole Brown said: 'Expecting @TheView @JoyVBehar @michcoll to apologize to the 3.4 million nurses in the U.S. for your insulting comments #nursesunite.' 

One Twitter user mocked Behar, posting: 'Doctor, can I borrow your stethoscope? SAID NO NURSE EVER! #nursesunite #TheView.'

While Isra Hashmi  tweeted at the hosts: 'There are 3 million nurses in America. You picked the wrong profession to mess with.'

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