Arie Luyendyk Jr. and his fiancée, Lauren Burnham, are still getting blasted for an April Fool’s Day prank gone wrong. The Bachelor‘s stars have apologized but the damage has already been done.
The controversy started on Sunday after the 36-year-old auto racing driver tweeted about Burnham being pregnant. The message was accompanied by a photo of the former tech salesperson sporting a fake baby bump.
Luyendyk Jr. captioned the image: “Secrets finally out, we have a bunny in the oven! @laurenburnham91.” Sensing that he had done something wrong, the former Bachelor returned to social media one hour later to say it was all a joke.
Monday morning, Luyendyk Jr. tried his best to squash the controversy for good by posting a heartfelt apology. It read: “I do have sympathy for women struggling from infertility. My April Fools prank was in no way meant to offend women who struggle with that. I apologize if you were effected personally by my post.”
Secrets finally out, we have a bunny in the oven! @laurenburnham91 pic.twitter.com/Mmx50ePDaB
— Arie Luyendyk Jr. (@ariejr) April 1, 2018
This was still not enough for some online commenters who kept going after the couple for their lack of empathy. One person wrote, “If you have struggled with pregnancy loss or infertility, you would understand. People have a right to be offended about this as pregnancy is NOT something to joke about. That is like if someone would have made a joke about being deaf/hearing impaired. It would hit home, right? Just because it does not hit home for you does not make everyone else “pansy asses.” You being closed minded and not seeing why people would be offended just makes you heartless.”
Another follower continued, “I have been a longtime fan, and was so psyched when you were announced as the Bach. I thought what you did on ATFR was tacky, but the “April fools joke” is honestly above and beyond insensitive. It bleeds outside your personal life and makes light of pregnancy loss & infertility struggles that so many women have dealt with. Coming from you, someone who has gone through a loss, you should know better. One in FOUR women has had a loss whether infant or miscarriage. ONE IN FOUR. #thisisnotajoke The real fool here is you.”
Some supporters have defended the couple by arguing that this generation has become too sensitive and people need to learn to laugh a little from time to time.
A third commenter shared, “People are so sensitive! That is what is wrong with America! Yes, I cannot have children, and I do not give a shit about that joke!”
I do have sympathy for women struggling from infertility. My April Fools prank was in no way meant to offend women who struggle with that. I apologize if you were effected personally by my post.
— Arie Luyendyk Jr. (@ariejr) April 2, 2018
Luyendyk Jr. and Burnham have recently celebrated their move to Arizona.