Comedian Arj Barker’s request that a mother and baby leave a Melbourne show sparks debate

US comedian Arj Barker has hit back at critics who called him out for booting a breastfeeding mum and her newborn baby from his show.

A breastfeeding mum who was booted out of a comedian’s show because her baby girl was making noise in the crowd says the incident left her feeling “humiliated”.

US comedian Arj Barker asked mother-of-three Trish Faranda and her seven-month-old baby to leave his Melbourne Comedy Festival show at the Athenaeum Theatre on Saturday night.

The act sparked a walkout in the theatre and triggered passionate debate online.

Speaking to 3AW Radio, Ms Faranda insisted her baby “wasn’t screaming” and hit back at critics who questioned why she took a kid to a “15 plus” comedy show.

“She wasn’t screaming, she was just being a baby, she gurgled a little bit, she had a bit of a whinge... nothing loud,” she said.

The mother said she had intentionally booked seats with her sister and a friend near the front of the theatre but to the side so she could make a quick exit if her bub got too noisy.

“I didn’t want to impact other people, people were out to have a good night.”

But Barker insisted on asking the woman to leave the theatre.

Ms Faranda said “10 or 12” other people - mostly women and mothers - joined her in walking out of the theatre in solidarity.

“We booked two comedy shows, one was (David) Hughesy at the very beginning (of the Melbourne Comedy Festival),” she added.

“He heard her at his show and he did a skit about her and his own kid, and he moved on with his show like a true professional.”

Comedy veteran Arj Barker allegedly asked a woman with a newborn to leave his Melbourne show over the weekend. Picture: Jim Lee Photo

In a statement released on Monday morning, Barker refused to back down, insisting the baby was “disrupting” his performance.

“The show is strictly age 15 plus as clearly stated on the ticket site. She had an infant with her. The baby was disrupting my performance,” he said.

“On behalf of the other 700 people who paid to see the gig, I politely told her the baby couldn’t stay. She thought I was kidding, which made the exchange a bit awkward.

“I felt bad about the whole situation and stated this on the night more than once. I offered her a refund. Theatre staff should not have seated a baby in my audience in the first place.”

Barker also spoke to 3AW Radio in a bid to clear his name on Monday.

“(In that theatre) sound travels, you can hear the drop of a pin,” he told host Tom Elliott.

“It doesn’t take much to distract an audience, and I’ve worked on these jokes and there’s timing and there’s pauses, and it’s just not going to work with the baby.

“I made the decision, it wasn’t easy, it was really awkward for me. I said ‘I’m really sorry but the baby can’t stay’.”

Barker said he placed the blame with promoters for allowing the woman to enter the venue despite there being a 15-plus age limit advertised online.

He also rubbished suggestions the fact the woman was breastfeeding had anything to do with the move.

“I could just make out a woman holding a baby, I had zero idea if she was breastfeeding - nor would that have been a factor, because I don’t have any problem with that.”

Audience members hit out at Barker

Relative Danielle took to X to condemn Barker for the divisive act.

“(Barker) demanded my 7-month-old cousin — who relies on her mum for milk (life), my mother, and my Aunty’s friend (also a mum) to leave his show, claiming the (the baby) was “ruining his train of thought,” she wrote.

“A woman has purchased a ticket for a night out with her sister and friend to laugh and enjoy herself, and you badger her and encourage her to leave and get a refund.

“With all of the hatred and violence women are faced with, among the countless atrocities happening within the world today, I ask you to simply take a long, hard look at yourself.”

David, who was also at the show, told 3AW Breakfast the baby was not being disruptive.

“The baby was just being a baby, it wasn’t doing anything above and beyond,” he explained.

“He stopped the show and said: ‘Can you take this baby outside?’

“The crowd wasn’t sure whether he was serious – but he was dead serious. It was unbelievably awkward.”

The US comedian shares a close bond with Australian audiences.

Internet split over move

While Barker’s actions were met with plenty of contempt online, others defended the comic and questioned why the baby was at the show.

“Who takes a newborn to a show? The comedian has worked hard his whole life to get to this point, and that’s his show a show he would be so proud to deliver – a comedy show is all about content – if you miss the lines you miss the show,” one person said online.

“If you couldn’t get a babysitter to an adult event – don’t go, stay home and parent,” another asserted.

Barker, known for his stand-up comedy and acting, shares a close bond with his Australian audience, having spent significant time in Australia over his career.

He’s particularly well-known locally for his appearances on various television shows, including The Glass House and Thank God You’re Here, and his appearances at comedy festivals and solo shows around the country.

While he’s originally from the United States, it’s understood he has lived in Australia for periods throughout his career.

His new show Mind Field is running until April 21 at the Melbourne theatre.