Georgina Burnett, a presenter on ITV's This Morning, has sparked controversy after posting what appeared to be a pregnancy announcement on Instagram, only for it to be revealed as an April Fools' Day joke. The home improvement expert shared a black-and-white image of herself cradling a bump under her jumper with the caption “news!” on her Instagram Story. Many followers quickly suspected the prank due to the date, and Burnett later confirmed it with a wink emoji in the comments.
The joke drew criticism from some followers, with one commenting: “Not funny if this is an April Fool’s joke.” Pregnancy-related pranks have previously been condemned as insensitive to those struggling with fertility issues. In 2022, Kerry Katona faced similar backlash for a fake pregnancy announcement on April Fools' Day, later apologising and saying it was intended for close friends but accidentally posted publicly.
Despite the controversy, some of Burnett's followers played along, with comments such as “April Fool’s, Georgina! You actually look great pregnant!” and “I almost fell for it!” The prank comes after Burnett revealed in February 2023 that she had separated from her husband, Andy Flawn, after over 20 years together. She shared the news on social media, stating she was focusing on her next chapter as a single mother and did not want a “pity party.”
