Viewer Attacks Deborah Knight's Visible Pregnancy

‘Disappointed’ is how Weekend Today Co-host Deborah Knight responded to a comment by a viewer who said her pregnant body was “repulsive.”

Deborah, who is due to give birth to her third child, a girl, in two weeks, wrapped up her on air commitments yesterday. Her first day of maternity leave is today.

Unfortunately, this happy time in Deborah’s life has been marred by an angry email from a female viewer suggesting that Deborah hide her pregnant belly while presenting on air.

Deborah took to Twitter on Friday afternoon to share the viewer’s “charming” email.

“Charming viewer email: “Deb great BUT don’t need to look at pregnant body. If you must have her on keep her sitting down. It looks repulsive.”

Speaking with news.com.au, Deborah said she was more disappointed than anything by the suggestion she should not be working while visibly pregnant.

“I was more disappointed than offended that someone would genuinely hold that view in a modern era,” she said. “The language used by the viewer was quite strong — she called me ‘repulsive’ — but I get it that there are certain people of a certain generation who might think that pregnant women should perhaps not be in the workforce, because back in the 1950s pregnant women were forced to quit their jobs. I was just disappointed that someone would express that view in 2016.”

The email to Knight came just one week after an irate New Zealand man called a pregnant sports reporter an “eyesore” in a letter-to-the-editor published in TV guide.

Deborah told News.com.au, she had also received emails from viewers suggesting she shouldn’t be on air while pregnant with her two older children, aged six and five.

But she says these views are in the minority.

“I genuinely don’t believe the majority of people hold that view,” she said. “In fact I’ve had some wonderful emails and calls from people who have expressed their equal disappointment and how glad they were that Channel Nine has had, and continues to have, pregnant women on air, and how it’s really lovely.

“I’m still working because I am fit and healthy. If I had any complications, any pain or concerns, I wouldn’t be working. But I don’t.

“I’ve got two weeks until I’m due but I’ve really enjoyed staying on air and sharing my pregnancy with viewers who have enjoyed it as well.”

Deborah said she was thankful for the flood of support she’s received since making the email public.

“We do get a lot of feedback and a lot of it if it negative, and I take no notice of it to be honest, but I just think it’s important to call people out sometimes,” she said. “In this circumstance I thought others would be surprised just as I was that someone would go to the trouble to write this email.

“I thought it was a good opportunity, I suppose, to express that not everyone shares that view.”

24 Comments

- - mom160421 said
  - 18 Feb 2016
    9:43 am
I would simply ignore rude comments. The people who post such comments are not worth wasting energy on.

- - june11 said
  - 11 Feb 2016
    8:31 pm
Honestly, do some people have to be so rude? She looks beautiful. She doesn’t look as though she is really big. I hope for her own sake that she is getting some rest though.

- - KrysGrace said
  - 08 Feb 2016
    3:50 pm
Such a shame that one woman who clearly feels insecure about their own appearance felt the need to attack another in an attempt to make herself feel good.

- - madlac2 said
  - 05 Feb 2016
    12:46 pm
Debs belly looks gorgeous, maybe she will breastfeed on t.v….u know just to rev things up a little lol

- - mom91861 said
  - 05 Feb 2016
    7:43 am
Once again people with to much time on their hands & nothing constrictive to do with it. Should we ban all pregnant women from leaving their houses as to not offend anyone?

- - mum4107 said
  - 26 Jan 2016
    6:11 am
Good on Deborah for not taking offense. What sort of woman makes a personal attack on the was another woman looks. How rude

- - curlytops said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    10:26 pm
what a strange thing for some one to write in!

- - rachelvk said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    8:40 pm
Good on her for choosing to work while pregnant if that is what she wants to do. It astounds me that people can be so judgmental.
- mom94125 replied
  
  26 Jan 2016 , 1:56 pm
  yeah it is great that she is choosing to work. i hope that the person who said this to her, doesn’t walk around telling women the same thing.
- - mom94125 said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    8:18 pm
redic! how rude some people are! she looks fab!

- - Lori-Anne said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    7:27 pm
Good on her for continuing to work in the field she loves… doing what she loves… people can be so rude and so negative. Whatever their reasons they should keep it to themselves.

- - Mummytoabeautifulprincess said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    4:53 pm
I’d like to know why these people think they have the right to make such a comment to ANY pregnant lady. Pregnancy is an amazing thing and ALL baby bumps are gorgeous!! Deb looks freakin AMAZEBALLS by the way! Wish i looked that good when i was pregnant haha

- - BellaB said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    3:42 pm
That tummy isn’t repulsive at all. Although I imagine there would have been times Deb would be glad enough to sit down!

- - mom90758 said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    1:12 pm
It think that charming viewer’s email is repulsive, not Deborah’s body!!

- - tarajazzy said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    11:12 am
A pregnant woman is one of the most beautiful sights ever and still amazes me to this day. It\’s a miracle! The creation of life. The gorgeous sweet innocent precious little life in that belly is the best thing we humans do right, let\’s not lose sight of that. Disregard negativity and focus on positive and good things in life people. I take absolute pleasure seeing a pregnant woman in glow. Life is magnificent.

- - mom165081 said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    10:37 am
TV personalities are sometimes pregnant and it’s lovely to see this.. No need ever to hide a pregnancy. What a thoughtless and hurtful comment.

- - mom74640 said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    10:27 am
Lke hz

- - Nas01 said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    10:12 am
The viewer really needs to wake up to themself.

- - Lucy said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    9:22 am
I just don’t get why people have the time or energy to send emails like this. Why on earth do people actually care this much? Isn’t.changing the Chanel easier??
- mom93821 replied
  
  26 Jan 2016 , 5:15 am
  Changing the channel is easier; but it is similar to people that get offended by fb pages; then do not look at them! puzzling behaviour!
- - taynik46 said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    9:15 am
to the viewer who thought it was ok to call someone repulsive – Maybe you could give news presenting a go and see what things people say about you? Just because they are in the public eye doesn’t mean they are fodder for people to name call and torment – shame on you hiding behind your computer and nasty words!

- - aprilb1 said
  - 25 Jan 2016
    8:45 am
Some people never cease to amaze me, how on earth is it repulsive?