On April Fools Day 2019, Justin Bieber took to Instagram to post what appeared to be an ultrasound. Though many fans were wary, considering the date, Bieber seemed sincere in what was amounting to a pregnancy announcement with his wife, Hailey Bieber.
Bieber even posted a photo of Hailey having what appeared to be an ultrasound, saying:
"If U thought it was April Fools"
Right then, however, Bieber pulled the rug out from under fans, revealing it WAS all an April Fools joke.
People online were less than thrilled about Bieber's fake pregnancy joke, which many consider to be a tired, offensive April Fools tradition.
Justin Bieber lying about Hailey being pregnant is beyond disrespectful. 1 in 4 women suffer from infertility, misc… https://t.co/BvhI6KyvxS— 𝓞ld Chisen (@𝓞ld Chisen) 1554239322.0
To many people trying to conceive, joking about getting pregnant is far from funny.
@Complex Pregnancy jokes are never cool. #JustinBieber #Bieber #AprilFools #AprilFoolsPrank #AprilFoolsJoke #Pregnancy— Samus Aran ⭐ (Miley) (@Samus Aran ⭐ (Miley)) 1554263926.0
justin bieber faking hailey being pregnant is... gross & insensitive https://t.co/2W3ZUhTywm— abs (@abs) 1554154411.0
We love a good laugh, but pregnancy is not an April Fools Joke. https://t.co/6vHOw5HAeJ— Main Line Fertility (@Main Line Fertility) 1553868268.0
Following the backlash he received on social media, Bieber went back to Instagram to apologize, writing that he wasn't expecting to offend anyone:
Justin Bieber reacts to outrage over his April Fools pregnancy prank https://t.co/SqniclZbkm— BallerAlert (@BallerAlert) 1554230334.0
Some people still felt his apology lacked a little forethought...
"I am a prankster ...it’s like when I shoved cake in my little sisters face for her birthday expecting her to laugh… https://t.co/32w1kw9mhO— Laura Hensley (@Laura Hensley) 1554225819.0
Many other people on social media, however, took Justin's side! They claimed that Bieber's joke may not have been all that funny, but that it wasn't offensive enough to warrant an apology.
@TODAYshow My wife and I tried for 6 years. And not one instance did I think his comment was insensitive. I had no… https://t.co/ecvayYvYFX— Timothy Chow (@Timothy Chow) 1554250219.0
@TODAYshow Those people who are mad by this prank should get over it there are bigger issues in the world.— DC (@DC) 1554218554.0
@Complex people will find the smallest thing to be mad af at— Joshua Sanchez (@Joshua Sanchez) 1554267053.0
Has the internet become too sensitive?
@vivala_torrence @justinbieber @haileybieber I can't believe he even has to apologise for this. What's wrong with the world. Smile a little.— HealthNut (@HealthNut) 1554252848.0
@vivala_torrence @justinbieber @haileybieber Gosh, people these days are so sensitive to literally nothing. It’s ri… https://t.co/j2q2OxGYwM— haley (@haley) 1554248845.0
One thing is certain: Bieber's posts inspired far less laughter and far more argument than any joke ideally should. Perhaps Bieber actually should have apologized for his lack or originality.
Justin Bieber's prank about becoming a father did NOT go over well. https://t.co/OiXX6y6wGn— HuffPost Ent (@HuffPost Ent) 1554232485.0
Don't worry, Justin, you'll get 'em next year!