A nursing mother who attended a comedy show in Melbourne was left in tears when popular comedian Arj Barker kicked her out for “interrupting his performance”.
Barker asked the mother and her seven-month-old baby to leave about 15 minutes into his show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival on Saturday night.
An attendee, David, told Radio 3AW that Barker ‘stopped the show and said “can you take this baby outside?” and the crowd wasn’t sure if he was serious.
“It was incredibly awkward.”
3AW reported that a witness described the baby as having made “a little sound after being nursed” when Barker decided to ask him to come out.
A festival-goer claimed Arj Barker (above) ‘harassed’ the breastfeeding woman who was on a night out with his sister.
A group of people left the program after the uncomfortable confrontation.
In a statement issued Monday, Barker blamed Athenaeum Theater staff for seating the mother and child.
“This show is strictly PG-15, as clearly stated on the ticket site,” Barker said.
‘He had a baby with her. The baby was interrupting my performance.
‘On behalf of the other 700 people who paid to see the concert, I politely told him that the baby couldn’t stay.
‘She thought I was joking, which made the exchange a little awkward.
‘I felt bad about the whole situation and I said it that night more than once. I offered him a refund.
“The theater staff shouldn’t have sat a baby in my audience in the first place.”
Barker presented his new show Mind Field at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theater from March 28 to April 21.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival said Barker was produced independently and the festival did not manage the venue.
“However, any interaction between artists and their audiences requires sensitivity and respect,” a spokesperson told WhatsNew2Day Australia.
“In venues managed by our festival, babies in arms are generally allowed, but we ask people to sit in the back with their child so they can leave quickly and easily if the baby makes noise so as not to disturb the artist or other patrons” .
WhatsNew2Day Australia has requested further comment from Barker.