An Australian musician has apologized to a mother and her five-month-old baby who were refused entry to a concert, in an echo of what happened at comedian Arj Barker’s show in April.
Trish Faranda and her seven-month-old baby, Clara, were kicked out of Barker’s show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival because Clara was making too much noise and disturbing the American entertainer.
Now something similar has happened to Geelong mother Jasmine, her baby and her partner while they were trying to attend singer-songwriter Angie McMahon’s show at The Forum in Melbourne on Wednesday night.
But the trio did not even manage to enter the place: they were separated at the door and denied entry.
Jasmine was furious about the incident when she later spoke to Jacqui Felgate on the radio. 3AW.
“It didn’t even occur to me that it was something I couldn’t do with my daughter, she is exclusively breastfed,” she said.
An Australian musician has apologized to mum Jasmine and her five-month-old baby (pictured) who were refused entry to a concert, in an echo of what happened to another mum at a show by comedian Arj Barker in April.
The venue manager at The Forum in Melbourne came out and told the family that letting them in was a risk to their license and there was no other option.
“So I really had no choice not to bring it, especially when I’m there with my partner.”
He had previously taken his children to football matches, pubs, other concerts and music festivals, he said.
Jasmine has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Equal Opportunities Commissioner and the Minister for Women about what happened.
He said the controversy at Arj Barker’s show during the recent Melbourne Comedy Festival had crossed his mind when they were queuing for McMahon’s show, but he wasn’t expecting what would come next.
“We were immediately pulled out of line after someone at the door scanned one of our tickets and pulled us aside.”
She said it made her feel like she had been “disorganized in line… (although) orof course It was not.’
The manager came out and told the family that letting them in was a risk to their license and there was no other option.
Jasmine said the experience was “frustrating” and that “we have every right to be in live music, especially when the industry is already struggling.”
In a later interview with Angie McMahon on 3AW, the musician immediately apologized for what had happened to the family.
‘I’m very sad. I’m sorry it happened. We’ve had newborns at some of the other shows on the tour and it’s been very special,” McMahon said.
“It’s a really lovely moment to know that their parents have brought them to see us, and that’s one of their first gigs.
“It’s so special for us to know that’s happening, so I wouldn’t have minded at all.”
McMahon said she knows new moms in particular “are having a hard time and they should be able to go out at night and enjoy it with their bubba.”
However, he reiterated what the venue manager had said, saying: “It looks like they couldn’t let her in because of the licence, which is complicated.”
“I know places are doing it very hard and it’s very difficult to risk your license in any way.”
The singer said she would make some inquiries and hopes that “more conversations can happen about that license… just to have some clarity for people, so we know that mothers are being taken care of.”
The station then put the excluded mother back on the air to speak with the musician.
“Jasmine, I’m so sorry that was your experience,” McMahon told her fan. ‘I’d love to get you some tickets to another show and I’d love to sort it out.
Jasmine, along with her baby and partner, didn’t even make it to singer-songwriter Angie McMahon’s (pictured) show venue at The Forum – they were stopped at the door.
‘It’s really hard to come to something like that and I wish it hadn’t happened. “And thank you so much for purchasing a ticket and supporting live music.”
Jasmine appreciated the personal apology and responded: ‘Thank you Angie. And I will continue (going to your shows). “I love your music, I love live music and I will continue to bring my friend because it is important.”
McMahon praises Jasmine for being a “voice (for) other breastfeeding moms.”
“I’m totally with you and I think you should have been able to enjoy the show and I’m sorry you didn’t (they let you in).”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mariner Group, owner of The Forum, for comment.
Jasmine’s situation echoed that of Trish Faranda and her seven-month-old baby, Clara, who were kicked out of Barker’s show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival because Clara was making too much noise and bothering the American entertainer.
