Today’s Deborah Knight calls out woman who said her pregnant body was ‘repulsive’

WEEKEND Today co-host Deborah Knight says she is disappointed by a viewer who said her pregnant body was “repulsive”.

WEEKEND Today co-host Deborah Knight says she is more disappointed than offended by a viewer who said her pregnant body was “repulsive”.

Knight, who is due to give birth to her third child, a girl, in two weeks, wrapped up her commitments on Today this morning before going on maternity leave.

But that was not before she received an angry email from a female viewer suggesting that Knight hide her pregnant belly while on air.

Knight took to Twitter on Friday afternoon to share the viewer’s “charming” email.

Charming viewer email: "Deb great BUT don't need to look at pregnant body. If you must have her on keep her sitting down. It looks repulsive

— deborah knight (@deborah_knight) January 22, 2016

“Charming viewer email: “Deb great BUT don’t need to look at pregnant body. If you must have her on keep her sitting down. It looks repulsive”,” Knight posted.

The journalist told news.com.au she was more disappointed than anything by the suggestion she should not be working while in her later stage of pregnancy.

“I was more disappointed than offended that someone would genuinely hold that view in a modern era,” she said.

“The language used by the viewer was quite strong — she called me ‘repulsive’ — but I get it that there are certain people of a certain generation who might think that pregnant women should perhaps not be in the workforce, because back in the 1950s pregnant women were forced to quit their jobs. I was just disappointed that someone would express that view in 2016.”

The email to Knight came just one week after an irate New Zealand man called a pregnant sports reporter an “eyesore” in a letter-to-the-editor published in TV guide.

Knight was farewelled on Weekend Today this morning ahead of the birth of her daughter. Picture: Deborah Knight/Instagram

“Who is responsible for allowing a sports presenter in a very pregnant state to remain on screen?” the man wrote.

“I have no problem with seeing pregnant women in normal situations or places, but to have them remain on TV in a state which I feel is embarrassing and an eyesore? It’s time to replace them.”

Proudly pregnant presenters have long been a sensitive subject for out-of-touch viewers.

In the mid-1990s Sale of the Century presenter Nicky Buckley inadvertently sparked a storm of controversy for appearing on the show in an evening gown while heavily pregnant.

The scene sparked a flood of viewer complaints.

Nicky Buckley sent viewers into a tailspin when she bared her pregnant belly on Sale of the Century in 1997.

Knight said she had also received emails from viewers suggesting she shouldn’t be on air while pregnant with her two older children, aged six and five.

But she maintains those comments represent a minority view.

“I genuinely don’t believe the majority of people hold that view,” she said.

“In fact I’ve had some wonderful emails and calls from people who have expressed their equal disappointment and how glad they were that Channel Nine has had, and continues to have, pregnant women on air, and how it’s really lovely.

And: "Congratulations channel9 on having pregnant woman doing today show. normalising & refreshing to showcase woman in all stages of life"

— deborah knight (@deborah_knight) January 22, 2016

Good on you @deborah_knight for taking that emailer to task. You look beautiful. Good luck on baby #3. From one Weekender to another x

— Edwina Bartholomew (@edwina_b) January 23, 2016

@deborah_knight You've never looked more beautiful. That email is repulsive. x

— Alex Sloan (@sloaniealex) January 22, 2016

“I’m still working because I am fit and healthy. If I had any complications, any pain or concerns, I wouldn’t be working. But I don’t.

“I’ve got two weeks until I’m due but I’ve really enjoyed staying on air and sharing my pregnancy with viewers who have enjoyed it as well.”

Knight said she was heartened by the flood of support she’s received since making the email public.

“We do get a lot of feedback and a lot of it if it negative, and I take no notice of it to be honest, but I just think it’s important to call people out sometimes,” she said.

“In this circumstance I thought others would be surprised just as I was that someone would go to the trouble to write this email.

“I thought it was a good opportunity, I suppose, to express that not everyone shares that view.”