Richmond Greens candidate, stand up comedian Mandy Nolan on Arj Barker breastfeeding fiasco

A stand up comedian and federal Greens candidate has weighed in on a national debate following Arj Barker’s controversial move during a show, saying “no mother should be hate targeted”.

A stand up comedian and federal Greens candidate has weighed in on a national debate following Arj Barker’s controversial move during a show, saying “no mother should be hate targeted”.

Richmond Greens candidate and mother-of-five Mandy Nolan took to Facebook on Wednesday to share a photo of her breastfeeding on stage and asked: “So we are deciding whether breastfeeding women are welcome in public spaces?”

“Arj Barker asked a mum and her baby to leave a show. It should have stayed there …. but

Its opened the door to a huge outpouring of people telling breastfeeding mums to stay home,” she wrote.

Greens candidate for Richmond and Mullumbimby resident, author, writer and comedian Mandy Nolan has weighed in following the Arj Barker fiasco. Picture: Supplied.

“This is the part of the conversation I am uncomfortable with. As a comedian of 40 years who is a mother of five, who breastfed for 11 years – including on stage – I wonder why we are so happy to talk exclusion?”

Ms Nolan’s post came after an extensive media whirlwind surrounding American comedian Arj Barker, who last weekend booted breastfeeding mother of three Trish Faranda and baby out of his Melbourne show.

Federal Greens candidate and comedian Mandy Nolan posted a photo of herself breastfeeding on stage. Picture: Facebook/Supplied.

Barker’s decision sparked a national debate about etiquette both on and off the stage, but he has since strenuously denied that it had anything to do with Ms Faranda breastfeeding – saying he could only see the outline of a woman holding a baby in the dark theatre.

A news.com.au poll racking up 15,000 votes showed an overwhelming 96 per cent of respondents agreed a comedy show is no place for a baby.

Mother of three Trish Faranda with Ylaria, 4, and baby Clara, 7 months. Picture: Tony Gough

Ms Nolan went on to say that rather than talking about “exclusion”, “can’t we talk inclusion?”

“How we could make public spaces work for breastfeeding mums?,” she added.

“I just hate the idea of all those breastfeeding mums feeling like they are going to be hate targeted if they are in public spaces.

“If we can deal with dogs in cafes and on planes we can find a way to have the odd baby in a comedy show so the comedian doesn’t have to ask them to leave. That's a terrible position to be in.

Arj Barker on stage. Picture: Jim Lee Photo

“This shouldn’t be Arj V Baby. It should be, how can we do this better?

“Are we so adversarial we can’t have nuanced discussions? What do you think? (Nuance please!)”

Ms Nolan’s post attracted over 300 comments, with users divided.

Some slammed Ms Nolan’s post as “ridiculous and rubbish”, saying the Melbourne incident was “about disruption and not about breastfeeding”.

NewsCorp editorial cartoon April 23. Broelman

Others took her side and agreed, with one person saying “mothers need to breastfeed. It’s a fact. Get over it!”

Ms Nolan has been contacted for further comment.

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