Comedian Arj Barker faced backlash after asking a breastfeeding mother and her baby to leave a comedy show in Melbourne on Saturday.
The incident occurred during a show at the Athenaeum Theater when Barker noticed the baby making noise. Mr Barker’s actions sparked heated debate online.
One fan commented on his Instagram, “I’ve lost a fan forever in my life.” “He’s also missing the point. It’s not about asking the baby to leave. You very aggressively make the woman scream all over the room to get the intercourse over,” another said. user said.
Some came to the comedian’s defense. One user said, “Age restriction = 15+. Conversation ends there.” “I can’t believe someone brings a little baby to a comedy show…seriously,” another user commented.
in statement Barker explained on Instagram that the show was interrupted by a baby’s cries and she asked the mother to leave.
“Afterwards, I calmly told the woman holding the baby that the baby couldn’t stay like this. I felt bad doing that, so not just at that time, but for the rest of the show. I said this several times. When she left, I offered her a refund as a gesture of goodwill,” the comedian said in a statement. (Related: Comedian fired for vulgar stand-up wins case after arbitrator declares jokes ‘insightful’ and ‘funny’)
“I want to be clear that this is a very tough call that I am making on behalf of the 700 or so other audience members who have the right to watch the show they paid for uninterrupted.”
Her mother, Trish Faranda, expressed her humiliation over the incident: interview Performed with Australian radio station 3AW. “I felt humiliated,” Faranda said. “He was intimidating, standing right in front of me.”
