TODAY’s show Karl Stefanovic and Ally Langdon can’t control their laughter while watching a video of Meghan Markle reading her picture book “The Bench”.
Meghan was filmed reading the book, which was released in June, for the Brightly Storytime YouTube channel which often features famous authors reading from their books.
However, Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon, the Sunrise hosts, were not impressed by the Duchess. They could be heard laughing while they watched the video live.
Meghan said that the book is about a “special bond between father and son” as “seen through a mother’s eyes,” then she says “for the man and the boy who make my heart go pump-pump.”
News and sports presenter Alex Cullen also cracked up while listening to Meghan dedicate the book to Prince Harry and their son Archie.
After the video was over, the TV hosts broke into laughter and apologized.
“Sorry!” Karl said. “It’s very hard to keep a straight face.”
“Why was it difficult to keep a straight face Alex, it’s a lovely story?” co-host Ally asked.
“It is a lovely story, it’s fascinating, fulfilling me in many ways,” Alex sarcastically responded.
Karl made reference to Meghan’s line in her book saying: “As we always say, pump pump”, which caused Ally to respond with: “Up the jam!”
The entire TV panel began to sing 1989 Pump up the Jam by Technetronic. Each person took turns singing a line between laughter.
Some Twitter users were unimpressed by the reaction.
“What is Karl Stefanovic’s problem,” one user said. “His hatred of Meghan is absolutely ridiculous and his behavior on the air is bullying and unprofessional.”
“Karl Stefanovic has been vile for years & racist: bullying Meghan,” another person wrote. “He used to be a decent presenter once. Now his ego is pathetic. Why his offsider belittles herself by laughing at Meghan is beyond me.”
While someone else compared Karl to Piers Morgan, who is known for his commentary of the royal couple.
“Karl is pretty much mini Piers on anything Meghan or Harry,” the person wrote.
Karl and Ally have previously mocked Meghan and her book, after finding out it stemmed from a poem that the Duchess of Sussex had written for her husband Prince Harry on Father’s Day.
The pair find it ridiculous that the Sussexes might write each other poetry in their spare time. During the segment in May, Ally questioned the words on the autocue, comparing Meghan to famous children’s authors.
“Meghan Markle is joining the ranks of Roald Dahl and JK Rowling – oh, a stretch – by writing her first children’s book about the bond between fathers and sons,” Ally said.
“Yeah, can you imagine anything better?” Amelia Adams, Nine’s US correspondent added. ” I mean, pop it on in the car, pop it on at home when you’re cooking dinner. Meghan’s dulcet tones.”
“They actually write poetry together!” Karl said as he slammed his desk.
Illustrated by Californian artist Christian Robinson, The Bench was published on June 8, with Meghan herself narrating an audiobook version.
“The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father’s Day, the month after Archie was born,” Meghan said in a statement. “That poem became this story. My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the makeup, as much as it does with mine.”
According to publisher Random House Children’s Books, the Duchess of Sussex’s book was inspired by Prince Harry and Archie. It’s the story of the relationship between a father and a son from the point of view of the mother.
“I wrote this as a poem for my husband and our son Archie and then turned it into a book so you could enjoy it too,” Meghan says at the start of the YouTube video.
“I hope you enjoyed The Bench, I loved being able to share it with you,” Meghan said. “Now I hope that you are able to find your special bench, chair, or quiet corner. You can only share a special place with someone you love.”