Kerry Katona apologises after being called 'insensitive' for April Fools' joke

The star has apologised. (PA)
The star has apologised. (PA)

Kerry Katona has apologised after fans called her “insensitive” for pretending she was pregnant for an April Fools' Day joke.

The former Atomic Kitten — who has five children — sparked a backlash when she posted a fake sonogram image on Instagram on 1 April.

Many fans felt the joke was in bad taste, but the star has now said she didn’t mean to offend or cause upset and feels 'sick' that anyone would think she had intended to do so.

Read more: Kerry Katona says failed marriages left her with 'massive anxiety'

“So here’s me thinking I was posting the most unoriginal April Fools' joke by telling my other half he’d unintentionally knocked me up was the norm on the 1st April,” she wrote on her Instagram Story.

The star has apologised for her joke. (Kerry Katona Instagram)
The star has apologised for her joke. (Kerry Katona Instagram)

“Lesson learnt!!!

“Absolutely no malice and most certainly no intent to upset anyone!

“I honestly feel sick to my core that anyone would think I would intentionally go out of my way to upset another human being!”

Katona, who is set to wed her fiancé Ryan Mahoney, said it was the last time she would pull an April Fool prank.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 02: Liz McClarnon, Kerry Katona and Natasha Hamilton of Atomic Kitten pose backstage at G-A-Y on March 2, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Jo Hale/Redferns via Getty Images)
Liz McClarnon, Kerry Katona and Natasha Hamilton of Atomic Kitten in 2013. (Redferns via Getty Images)

“My sincere apologies,” she said. “Sorry folks.”

Fans had posted messages on Instagram after seeing the fake scan snap, which has since been removed.

One wrote: “You should be ashamed for the post you made for April Fools!! Disgusting.”

Another called Katona an “insensitive person”.

GLOUCESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 3:  In this handout image provided by Hygrove House/Reward PR, Kerry Katona officially opens The Hygrove, a new and exclusive sanctuary where members can recover from drug and alcohol addictions in peace and luxury, on May 3, 2018 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Antony Thompson for The Hygrove via Getty Images)
Kerry Katona in 2018. (Getty Images)

One outraged fan said in the comments section: “My daughter lost a baby just after Christmas, she was dreading people like you making April Fools' jokes about pregnancy, disgusting and very very insensitive.”

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Katona is mum to daughters Molly, 20, and Lily-Sue, 19, from her marriage to Brian McFadden, as well as daughter Heidi, 15, and son Max, 13, from her second marriage to Mark Croft. She also has seven-year-old daughter Dylan-Jorge from her relationship with late husband George Kay.

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