Sydney socialite is slammed for pretending to be pregnant online on April Fool’s Day and is forced to take down ‘insensitive’ post

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Pilates instructor Bernadette Sukkar quickly removed a post she shared on Wednesday after receiving negative feedback from her followers. The post was originally intended as an April Fool’s Day joke.

A 36-year-old Sydney socialite faced criticism for appearing to fake a pregnancy to advertise prenatal classes offered through her business, Body by Berner. People called her actions insensitive.

Okay, so this is a bit of a tricky one. I saw a video circulating online – it was posted to both her personal and professional Instagram pages – and honestly, it looked like she was trying to create the appearance of being pregnant with a fake baby bump under her clothes. The Daily Mail picked up on it, and it’s definitely caused a bit of a stir. It’s a really interesting example of how carefully curated online personas can sometimes…well, not quite ring true.

She hinted at a surprise in a video caption, and then shared that she was taking a pregnancy class.

I was totally fooled by Bernadette’s post! Turns out it was an April Fool’s joke, but honestly, she’s already putting it out into the universe that she wants to be pregnant in 2026, and I’m here for it! I’m sending all the positive vibes her way!

Some people found the joke funny and defended Bernadette, but others were upset and didn’t accept it.

Someone expressed disbelief and frustration that people were still making April Fool’s Day pregnancy jokes in 2026, calling it insensitive.

Several people agreed, calling the joke about pregnancy insensitive and out of touch.

Bernadette swiftly removed most of the comments and then deleted the post completely.

Red Nose Australia recently advised people not to make jokes about pregnancy on April Fool’s Day, as it can be a sensitive topic.

The national charity, which helps families grieving the loss of a child, recently posted that nearly 25% of pregnancies result in miscarriage.

Communications and Marketing Manager Fiona Jordan also penned an article discussing the issue. 

She expressed disappointment, stating she believed comedy should target those in power, not make fun of those who are less privileged. She wrote that she expected these kinds of performances to be humorous, but they missed the mark.

Beyond just being a common occurrence, pregnancy announcements can be insensitive. They aren’t particularly creative or humorous, and for those who have experienced loss, they can be deeply hurtful, bringing hidden pain to the surface and feeling like a cruel joke.

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Miscarriage is sadly common, and many people experience this loss with little opportunity to openly grieve. It’s often a hidden pain because society struggles to talk about it, but the grief is real, and the babies lost are deeply missed.

Fiona highlighted that tragically, around 3,000 babies and children die each year in Australia due to issues like stillbirth, SIDS, sudden unexpected death in infancy, and accidents.

As a lifestyle expert, I always say to think before you post online, especially on April Fool’s Day. Pregnancy is a deeply personal and emotional journey – for many, it’s been either the most incredible joy or a heartbreaking loss. It’s something people often dream of, so let’s be mindful and avoid making light of it.

Daily Mail has reached out to Bernadette for comment.  

Bernadette married Jordan Sukkar, the COO of Buildcorp, in November 2024 at The Scots College in Bellevue Hill.

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2026-04-02 07:18