‘Insensitive’: Tammy Hembrow’s ‘pregnancy’ announcement offends

The influencer and mum-of-three says she “can’t wait to meet my little angel”, but her video has left many outraged.

An Australian fitness influencer has faced backlash after sharing a fake pregnancy announcement with her two million followers.

Tammy Hembrow, 30, took to TikTok to post a video in which she revealed a cardboard pregnancy test showing a “positive” result.

Hembrow then pretended to be shocked before standing up to reveal her “pregnant” belly, which was actually just her eight-year-old son, Wolf, tucked inside her shirt.

He wriggled and squirmed while Hembrow rubbed his head and laughed.

“Can’t wait to meet my little angel,” she captioned the clip.

The video has since garnered nearly three million views and over 500 comments, many of which were unimpressed with her joke.

“This is so distasteful, Tammy. You don’t joke about pregnancy. It’s hurtful and disgusting,” read the top comment, which received 3218 likes. “I wonder how many of your followers are trying to conceive.”

“You don’t joke about pregnancy,” echoed another user.

“To many women, this is actually mean,” a different commenter told the entrepreneur, who founded the activewear brand Saski and the training program Tammy Fit.

Another user claimed that anyone who “thinks this is okay” is a “sheep”.

“This is insane,” another comment bluntly stated, while others described it as “extremely insensitive” and “a kick in the guts”.

One commenter even compared the video to “joking about cancer,” stating, “I know they’re different, but both impact people. If we’re normalising joking about pregnancy, let’s normalise joking about everything.”

“I’m currently struggling with infertility, and this trend is hurtful, even if it’s a joke. I’m unfollowing people who do it,” read yet another comment.

Tammy Hembrow has sparked backlash for her fake pregnancy announcement. Picture: TikTok/@tammyhembrow

She showed a cardboard pregnancy test before acting surprised and laughing at the camera. Picture: TikTok/@tammyhembrow

However, some defended the clip, arguing that viewers needed to “take accountability” for their own emotions and reactions.

“Seriously, have some resilience! She really shouldn’t have to consider every person out there with trauma related to different things,” replied one supporter.

“Can the world lighten up, please, and crack a joke? The politically correct police are everywhere,” lamented another commenter.

“Didn’t realise how taboo pregnancy is,” someone else said.

“This is pure gold,” shared another fan, while one woman admitted it had them “in stitches.”

Her son Wolf hid inside her shirt and pretended to be a pregnant belly. Picture: TikTok/@tammyhembrow

However her followers weren’t laughing along with her, with many calling it insensitive. Picture: TikTok/@tammyhembrow

Hembrow is currently engaged to former Love Island Australia contestant Matt Zukowski, 29, and the couple are set to marry in Byron Bay in November.

In 2021, Zukowski revealed that he had been diagnosed as infertile due to a childhood surgery for “undescended testicles” which caused permanent damage.

Hembrow, who has three children from two previous relationships, has previously discussed whether she wants more kids in the future.

Hembrow has previously spoken out about potentially having kids with her fiance in the future. Picture: TikTok/@tammyhembrow

She said that if they were to have children, it would likely be through IVF, due to his infertility. Picture: TikTok/@tammyhembrow

In a TikTok Q&A, she stated that it was “actually quite hurtful” for people to speculate whether she and her fiance would have more kids, given his diagnosis.

“I don’t want to speak on this too much while he’s not here because it’s his thing to tell,” she said.

“That being said, there are options for us to explore if that [pregnancy] becomes a path we want to go down.”

The pair are set to tie the knot in Byron Bay in November. Picture: TikTok/@tammyhembrow

She went on to explain that if she were to have more children, she and Zukowski would consider IVF treatment.

“It wouldn’t be naturally conceived,” she noted.

Hembrow then admitted that after giving birth to her youngest child, Posy, she “swore off” having any more kids.

“But obviously, Matt would love to have a baby, and if that is an option for us later on, I definitely am open to it,” she concluded.

Originally published as ‘Insensitive’: Tammy Hembrow’s ‘pregnancy’ announcement offends