Josh Duhamel Supports Fergie Post-National Anthem: She’s ‘as Resilient as They Come’
As the vitriol surrounding Fergie's disastrous NBA All-star game performance begins to die down, her ex-husband, Josh Duhamel, is showing his support.
Appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Friday (February 23), the Love, Simon actor admitted that while he doesn't think Fergie's controversial rendition of the National Anthem was a career highlight, her talent speaks for itself. “I think she would probably admit that it wasn’t her best work, but the girl’s crazy talented,” he said. “She’s an amazing woman, an amazing human being really.”
Duhamel also noted that it was "hard to see somebody you care about get beat up like that," but that it's the nature of Hollywood — something Fergie is well equipped to handle. "You’re in the business, and you put yourself out there, and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose," he continued. “Trust me: She’s fine. She is about as resilient as they come.”
Duhamel's comments come in response to Fergie's "Star-Spangled Banner" performance during the NBA All-Star game on Sunday (February 18), an oddly sultry interpretation for which she received widespread backlash, including noticeable laughter from the live crowd. Afterward, Fergie apologized, telling TMZ, "I'm a risk taker artistically, but clearly this rendition didn't strike the intended tone. I love this country and honestly tried my best."
Duhamel and Fergie were married for eight years from 2009 to 2017. The former couple, who share a four-year-old son, Axl, announced their separation last September. "With absolute love and respect we decided to separate as a couple earlier this year," they said in a joint statement at the time. "We are and will always be united in our support of each other and our family."
From the sounds of it, Duhamel is staying true to his word. Watch a clip from his Ellen Degeneres appearance above.
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