Today show's Karl Stefanovic jokes Ally is 'pregnant' live on air

Karl Stefanovic caused for a bit of an awkward moment on the Today show on Thursday morning, when he joked that his co-host Allison Langdon was 'pregnant' live on air.

The presenters had conducted in studio rapid-antigen tests for Covid-19 on the breakfast program, and were awaiting the results - which took around 15 minutes - when Allison remarked: "Can I just say I haven't waited this nervously for a test result in quite some time."

"And last time Mack came along several months later. It's very anxious wait," she added, referring to her son, who is now four.

That's when Karl took things further, asking: "Oh are you saying we could be surprised like that in another 7-8 minutes?"

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"Wow, there's a headline," he continued, as Ally awkwardly laughed alongside him.

Karl then requested a drumroll "just for Ally and her result" - which he received - be he declared: "Sheeeeeee's pregnant!!"

Everyone on the panel laughed and clapped, with Ally going along saying: "Yeah thanks you know we've been really wanting a third."

But Ally then did try to move the conversation along, saying: "Okay, so the test is negative and you're stuck with me for the rest of the morning."

Karl confirmed his test result was also negative.

Given that in Australia one in six Australian couples of reproductive age experience fertility problems, and one in four will have experienced the loss of a baby, the joke may have not landed well with everybody.

Health experts regularly warn - particularly around April Fool's day each year - that pregnancy is not a joke.

"Women can be quite fragile around the issue of pregnancy and something like a joke pregnancy announcement can end up being a painful reminder of something they are struggling with," Liz Wilkes, managing director of My Midwives told Femail.

"Women who are experiencing fertility issues, have had a miscarriage or have had to terminate a pregnancy may have had to keep this to themselves will be feeling emotional.

"To see something like [a joke announcement] on Instagram of Facebook is really disrespectful."

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