Home and Away star addresses pregnancy controversy: 'People need a reality check'

Home and Away actor Jessica Redmayne has had to set the record straight about her controversial onscreen pregnancy. The star took to her Instagram stories to confirm that while her character Harper Matheson is pregnant after a night of passion with Tane Parata (Ethan Browne), she isn’t pregnant in real life.

She did so in a lighthearted fashion, comparing her baby bump to Margot Robbie’s real baby bump that was recently debuted. In her caption, the actress explained that she was 'trying to be funny.'

“So the latest Home and Away promo announces that Harper is pregnant. It’s been brought to my attention that people are wondering if Jessica is pregnant. Now, I know the similarities between me and Margot are uncanny, but no, I’m not pregnant,” she told fans.

“And if you have no idea what any of that means, I’m an actor, I work on Home and Away and my character’s name is Harper – she is pregnant. My name’s Jess, I’m not pregnant and Margot Robbie is pregnant. Just in case you didn’t see that in the news. That was the gag. Trying to be funny.”

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One fan reshared Jessica’s statement in a Home and Away fan group, saying it was ‘embarrassing’ fans were constantly asking the star if she was pregnant in real life.

“Can’t believe that Jessica had to make a video and explain this herself. I really feel second hand embarrassment for these people who go on her Instagram and ask if she’s pregnant or congratulate her on her pregnancy,” they wrote.

“This is not the first time people have asked… when Sophie Dillman’s character Ziggy was pregnant, [fans asked] if she is pregnant in real life. Actors and their characters are two different people. One is real and the other is just a character.”

Many fans echoed this statement, with one commenting: “God people are thick… wake up she’s playing a character. How do some people function in the real world?”

“Some people are so stupid,” another added.

“Poor Jessica. Some people still can’t tell the difference between make believe for the show and real life,” a third remarked.

“Just goes to show how stupid some people are that just cannot tell the difference between TV land and reality. Honestly some people need a reality check and learn to know the difference between a character and actor,” another added.

Tane and Harper’s baby storyline on Home and Away

Yahoo Lifestyle first reported that Harper and Tane would be expecting back in May, after a fan shared a leaked snap from set showing Harper wearing a fake baby bump.

Most people went wild over the potential storyline, with many pleased Tane would finally get to be a father. However, others are convinced it means Tane and Harper will be exiting the show.

While babies are often welcomed in Summer Bay, their arrival often ends up being the catalyst for their parents to head overseas.

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Baby Grace’s arrival resulted in Tori Morgan (Penny McNamee) and Christian Green’s (Ditch Davey) exit and baby Izzy left the bay with Ziggy Astoni (Sophie Dillman) and Dean Thompson (Patrick O’Connor).

“Guess she will be leaving soon. The curse of the baby. Have a baby [on the] show and leave not long after,” one person wrote.

“Great news. Whoever falls pregnant [and] has a baby, ends up leaving the show,” another added.

“Cool but it means they’ll sadly be written out of the show. Tane will be difficult to replace like Brax, Dean etc,” a third said.

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