Justin Bieber has apologised for an “insensitive” April Fools’ Day joke, which saw him claim his wife Hailey Baldwin was pregnant.
The pop star tricked fans into thinking he was about to become a father by sharing an ultrasound with his 107 million Instagram followers on Monday.
He also posted a picture which appeared to show Hailey having a doctor’s appointment, holding her stomach with two people looking on.
However he later revealed the posts were a hoax, and soon drew criticism from fans who pointed out women who struggle to conceive could find the joke hurtful.
On Tuesday night, he issued a lengthy apology alongside a screengrab of an article about the criticism, but added that “with pranks u sometimes have to roll that dice”. [sic]
“There’s always gonna be people offended, there’s also people who don’t take jokes very well,” Justin wrote. “I am a prankster and it was APRIL FOOLS.
“I didn’t at all mean to be insensitive to people who can’t have children.”
He added: “I truly don’t want anyone to be hurt by a prank.. it’s like when I shoved cake in my little sisters face for her birthday expecting her to laugh but she cried.
“You sometimes just don’t know what will hurt someone’s feelings not to compare pregnancy with cake in the face but it’s just to paint the picture of not knowing what will offend.
“Some might have laughed but some were offended .. I think With pranks u sometimes have to roll that dice. #prankster #dennisthemenace #sorry#truly.”
Plenty of fans fell for Justin’s prank as the singer has often talked about his hopes of becoming a father.
Last month, he sparked pregnancy rumours when he wrote on Instagram that he was “focused on repairing some very deep rooted issues” so he could become “the father I want to be”.
After a whirlwind romance, he and Hailey tied the knot with an intimate courthouse wedding in December 2018.
They’re rumoured to be planning a bigger, star-studded bash for later this year.
