Today's Karl Stefanovic slapped by guest after facing major fear on air

Karl Stefanovic has somewhat failed to face one of his greatest fears on Tuesday's episode of Today, after he freaked out on live TV while trying to hold a chicken who had just been crowned Australia's 'happiest pet'. The chicken in question, Lemon Chicken, gave the morning show host quite a fright when he went to hold it, which left him in hysterics after he promptly dropped the bird, much to the outrage of its owner.

Karl and Sarah Abo were joined by Kris Stanley, Lemon Chicken's owner, after the bird was crowned as Australia's happiest pet, with Karl hitting the owner-chicken duo with some hard-hitting questions before admitting to his fear of chickens. “How do we know a chicken is happy?” Karl pondered. “Because it’s not on a dinner plate?”

However Karl soon admitted he had a fear of chickens, calling the birds 'horrible' — right to Lemon Chicken's face. “They’re horrible creatures, chickens,” he said. “I was attacked by one when I was a kid.”

Karl faces greatest fear head-on on Today show

This led to Sarah suggesting Karl try holding the chicken in a bid to get him over his fear. "The pretty little birdy wants to say hi to Uncle Karl," Sarah cooed as she handed Lemon Chicken over, while Karl pulled a look of disgust upon being bestowed with the chicken. Soon enough, the bird started wildly flapping as Karl struggled to maintain his grip, before dropping the bird on the floor with Kris hitting Karl on the shoulder and exclaiming, "You dropped my baby!"

"I don't like them," Karl yelled. "I've had therapy for years! I've got PTS-chicken."

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"I like eating chicken, I like eating YOU," Karl then said to the bird who was safely back in its owner's arms. Lemon Chicken was then placed on Karl's shoulder, while the host exclaimed 'Oh my God', while listing off what type of chicken he usually likes to eat including chicken wings and chicken schnitzel.

"I don't like Lemon Chicken," the host muttered, as the segment wrapped up.

Today viewers react to a hilarious chicken segment

Views of the morning show found the ordeal hilarious, leaving plenty of the laugh-cry emojis, with others quoting the PTS-chicken line. "Great edit guys, soo good," one person said. "Funny sh*t, Karl," another fan commented.

"That made my day… his facials were hilarious," someone else said on Facebook.

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Other people stood up for the host, with one saying, "Braver then me Karl, I have a fear of chickens and watching that gave me anxiety." 'I'm with you Karl. There is absolutely NO WAY I could have done that," another stated. "You deserve a medal."

Lemon Chicken has not yet publicly commented on their own ordeal after being held by Karl.

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