Sydney Pilates Influencer Faces Backlash Over April Fool's Pregnancy Prank
Prominent Sydney socialite and Pilates entrepreneur Bernadette Sukkar, formerly known as Bernadette Fahey, was compelled to swiftly delete an April Fool's Day social media post on Wednesday after it provoked significant backlash from her followers. The 36-year-old fitness influencer, who operates the Body by Berner business, faced accusations of being 'insensitive' and 'tone deaf' for pretending to be pregnant as a promotional tactic for her prenatal classes.
The Controversial Instagram Post
As documented by the Daily Mail, Sukkar uploaded a video to both her personal and company Instagram accounts that showed her wearing what appeared to be a prosthetic baby bump beneath her clothing. The caption read, 'I've been cooking something up,' before revealing that the 'something' was actually a new pregnancy class offering. Although the post concluded with a clarification that it was an April Fool's joke and an expression of her hope to conceive by 2026, the damage had already been done.
While some followers found humor in the stunt and offered supportive comments, many others were far less forgiving. One critic remarked, 'People are still doing April Fool's pregnancy jokes in 2026? Wow. How insensitive.' Several others echoed this sentiment, labeling the prank as dismissive of those who have experienced pregnancy loss or infertility.
Swift Removal and Broader Context
Bernadette Sukkar appeared to quickly delete the most critical comments before ultimately removing the entire post from her social media platforms. This incident occurred against a backdrop of warnings from organizations like Red Nose Australia, which had issued a cautionary statement on Tuesday urging people to refrain from making pregnancy-related jokes on April Fool's Day.
The national charity, dedicated to supporting families affected by child loss, highlighted that nearly a quarter of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Fiona Jordan, Communications and Marketing Manager at Red Nose Australia, authored an article addressing the issue, stating, 'I thought these things were supposed to be funny. That comedy should be about punching up, not down.'
Charity's Perspective on Pregnancy Loss
Jordan elaborated on the emotional impact of such jokes, writing, 'And aside from that, how basic is a pregnancy announcement, it’s not clever, it’s not funny, and for loss parents it dismisses their loss, their feelings and makes a pain, they are so often hiding, a punchline.' She emphasized that miscarriage is not rare and that many individuals carry 'silent grief' due to societal discomfort around the topic.
Furthermore, Jordan pointed out that approximately 3,000 babies and children die annually in Australia from causes including stillbirth, SIDS, SUDI, and accidents. Her concluding plea was, 'So this April Fool’s Day, please think before you post. Pregnancy is not a joke. For so many of us, it was our greatest joy, our deepest sorrow, and the thing we wanted more than anything in the world.'
Personal Background and Response
Bernadette Sukkar is married to Jordan Sukkar, the Chief Operating Officer of Buildcorp, with their wedding taking place at The Scots College in Bellevue Hill in November 2024. The Daily Mail has reached out to Bernadette for comment regarding the controversy, but no response has been publicly disclosed at this time.
This incident raises important questions about the responsibilities of influencers and public figures when balancing humor with sensitivity, particularly on topics as emotionally charged as pregnancy and loss. As social media continues to evolve, the line between promotional content and respectful engagement becomes increasingly critical to navigate.
