Lopez: Pregnancy Rumours 'Don't Bother' Longoria Parker

Actor MARIO LOPEZ has defended his pal EVA LONGORIA PARKER against rumours she's expecting - insisting she merely laughs them off.

Speculation that the is pregnant by husband Tony Parker escalated on Wednesday (20Aug08) when she was photographed in Los Angeles with a protruding stomach - just a week after Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry revealed the couple were "desperately trying to get pregnant".

And former Saved by the Bell Lopez star insists his longtime pal uses humour to battle the press.

He says, "We get a laugh out of it. She's really cool. She just takes everything as it comes.

"She doesn't (read about herself), but I think people tell her - and she gets a kick out of it. She's very calm and very secure. She knows people are always going to (talk). That stuff doesn't bother her."

Longoria and French basketball star Parker wed in July last year (07).