Sunrise host Samantha Armytage has been replaced as the host of a United Nations lunch honouring former Sex and the City star Kristin Davis, after an awkward on-air stunt left the visiting US star confused and unimpressed.

During a Thursday appearance on the Channel Seven morning show, Davis, an ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, was forced to reenact a scene from her hit HBO show Sex and the City with Armytage and her fellow Sunrise hosts.

• Sex and the City star cringes during Aussie interview
• Current Affair host explains mysterious on-air lisp

The 50-year-old actress, who played Charlotte on the show, appeared unimpressed by the skit, telling Armytage and co: “I don’t know that this is a good idea, frankly.”

On Friday, Armytage and her co-host David Koch announced that she had been removed as the host of the $200-a-head event, to be held in Sydney.

“I was asked to MC [an] event and conduct a Q and A with Kristin on stage and I immediately accepted,” Armytage said.

“Since our interview yesterday, organisers have asked Sam not to host the event now or to attend it at all, which was unexpected,” Koch said.

“It was meant to be a bit of fun,” he added.

The pair apologised for the stunt and said they had the “utmost respect” for Davis and her work.

A spokeswoman for Australia for UNHCR confirmed to The Guardian Australia that the lunch would now be hosted by Australia for UNHCR director Naomi Steer.

“I can confirm that Sam Armytage will not be hosting the lunch today,” she said.

Sunrise‘s executive producer, Michael Pell, also apologised for the stunt, explaining that the show’s cast and crew were all SATC “tragics”.

“Our obsession may have gotten the better of us,” he said.

“We apologise for the bad acting and terrible costumes and we thank Kristin for being such a good sport. She is one of the most gracious stars we’ve ever had on Brekky Central.”

Lisa Wilkinson, host of Sunrise‘s Channel Nine competitor Today, tweeted to Davis that she and co-host Karl Stefanovic would love to have Davis drop by next time she’s in Australia.

“Congratulations @KristinDavis on your wonderful work with @UNrefugees Next time ur in Oz, love to have u on @TheTodayShow to talk about it,” Wilkinson said.

“Thank you! I would love to join you next time,” Davis responded, with a winking emoji symbol.