An incident during a live show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival has stirred a mix of outrage, support, and discussion after comedian Arj Barker halted his routine to ask a mother, Trish Faranda, and her seven-month-old baby to leave the venue.
Faranda, who was holding her baby, Clara, faced ejection from the performance, prompting some female attendees to exit in solidarity with her.
Expressing her feelings to an Australian radio station, Faranda described the experience as “humiliating.” However, Barker remained unapologetic, asserting that he acted in the interest of the paying audience members.
Faranda clarified that her baby’s noises were not disruptive, describing them as typical infant sounds. She positioned herself for a quick exit if needed and mentioned that Barker even made light-hearted jokes about the situation during the show.
Accounts from audience members varied regarding the level of disturbance caused by the baby’s noises. While some described it as crying, others perceived it as standard baby sounds.
Steven Adlard, an audience member, recounted Barker’s polite request for Faranda to leave, emphasizing the impact on the comedian’s ability to perform and the discomfort experienced by all involved.
Contrary to some reports, another attendee named David asserted that the baby wasn’t excessively disruptive. He recounted Barker’s serious request for the baby to be taken outside, which led to an awkward atmosphere in the theater.
Ellen Mahoney, a comedian present in the audience, highlighted the lack of intervention when male audience members directed profanity towards the mother. She noted the uncomfortable atmosphere and subsequent departure of several audience members.
Faranda confirmed that multiple women and a male attendee left the theater in solidarity with her, expressing discomfort with the situation.
In response, Barker defended his actions, citing the show’s age restriction and the disruption caused by the infant. He clarified that the issue wasn’t related to breastfeeding and expressed regret for the interaction with Faranda.
The comedian offered Faranda a refund and criticized the theater staff for seating a baby in the audience, reiterating that the show was intended for audiences aged 15 and above.
Arj Barker, known for his appearances on Last Comic Standing and Comedy Central projects, has not yet provided further comment on the incident.
The Independent has reached out to a representative of Arj Barker for additional statements regarding the incident.
