April 23rd 2024.
Looking forward to his next show, comedian Arj Barker sparked controversy when he asked a woman and her baby to leave mid-performance. The 49-year-old TV star, known for his role in the HBO series Flight of the Concords, was performing in Australia on Saturday when he paused his show and addressed mum-of-three Trish Faranda, who was sitting four rows from the front with her seven-month-old baby. According to Faranda, her baby was making "gurgling" noises and she was also heckled by the audience.
Recalling the incident, Faranda told 9 News that it was a difficult and humiliating experience, especially since she was breastfeeding at the time and already feeling vulnerable. "Nobody wants to feel unwanted, and when you're getting booed out of a place, you definitely feel unwanted," she said. After leaving the show, Faranda was brought to tears when other audience members walked out in solidarity with her and sent messages of support.
Barker's actions have divided social media users, with some defending him and saying he did nothing wrong, especially since his website states that his show is suitable for ages 15 and above. In a statement, Barker expressed his sadness at the negative reaction and clarified that he had no idea whether Faranda was breastfeeding or not because he was on stage and couldn't see the audience properly. He also stated that if it had been the father with the baby, he would have reacted the same way, as his main concern was the audience's enjoyment and immersion in the show.
Barker further explained that the theatre was quiet and he wanted to maintain the audience's immersion in his show, which would have been disrupted by any noises. He also mentioned that his concern was not for himself, but for the audience, and he had nothing against anyone. However, he did acknowledge that the situation was awkward and difficult for himself and that he made the decision to ask Faranda to leave for the sake of the audience's enjoyment.
The incident has sparked debate among fans, with some supporting Barker and others pointing out the irony that during Faranda's interview on The Project, she was asked to hand her crying baby to her husband mid-interview. Some fans have stood by Barker, while others have criticized Faranda for bringing a breastfeeding baby to a 15+ comedy show.
As a mother who has breastfed three babies, Faranda believes that women have the right to participate in society while breastfeeding and should not be limited to staying at home. However, some have also criticized Barker for the way he addressed Faranda and for not managing the situation better with the audience.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, where Barker's show was independently produced and held at a venue not managed by them, stated that interactions between performers and their audiences require sensitivity and respect. They also mentioned that in their Festival-managed venues, babies are generally allowed, but they ask parents to sit at the back in case the baby gets noisy.
In the end, the question remains: was Barker right to ask Faranda and her baby to leave his show? This incident has sparked a conversation about the rights of breastfeeding mothers and the responsibility of performers to manage their audience. As for Barker, he stands by his decision and hopes that the situation can be cleared up and put to rest.
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