Sunset Blvd. star Nicole Scherzinger was the subject of a social media frenzy on Friday after an Instagram comment she left sparked rumors that she was a supporter of President-elect Donald Trump. 

On Election Day November 5, media personality Russell Brand shared a selfie with a red "Make Jesus First Again" hat, stylized to mimic Trump's Make America Great Again branding. Scherzinger left a comment that read "Where do I get this hat!!!?," prompting fans to wonder if she was publicly establishing herself as a Trump supporter or simply agreed with the Christian message. Followers were also outraged at Scherzinger engaging with Brand, who has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women, according to reports from The Times and The Sunday Times.

As fans expressed their opinions on the matter, additional comments from Scherzinger's past resurfaced, including a 2016 Daily Mail interview in which she discussed her pro-life stance on abortion. On November 8, the artist responded. 

"I deeply apologize for the hurt caused by my recent engagement with some social media posts," Scherzinger said in a statement, which she also shared via Instagram stories. "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. Many presumptions are being drawn, which do not reflect who I am, what I stand for, or who I voted for. 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." 

"Like so many others, in times of adversity and uncertainty, I turn to my faith," she continued. "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."

Scherzinger is currently starring as Norma Desmond in the Broadway transfer of director Jamie Lloyd's Olivier-winning revival of Sunset Blvd.