Arj Barker reveals why he really asked breastfeeding mum to leave Melbourne show: 'I felt really bad'

Comedian Arj Barker has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons after it was revealed he asked a mum and her 7-month-old baby to leave his stand-up show at Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre on Saturday night. A relative of the baby in question took to Twitter to share about the incident, with people assuming the mum had been told to exit the venue because she was breastfeeding.

The incident sparked outrage on the internet with many criticising Arj for his "disgusting behaviour." However, the comedian has told Yahoo Lifestyle that it had nothing to do with breastfeeding and that he was merely trying to do what was right for his audience.

"The baby wasn't crying so much as 'talking' the way babies do," Arj told Yahoo Lifestyle. "In most other settings it would have been cute, but it was definitely loud enough to disrupt the show, in that it draws focus from what I'm saying; it is distracting to me, but more crucially to the audience."

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He continued, "I did not have any inkling about breastfeeding until this morning. I cannot see the audience well enough to discern features like that. They are in the dark and I have bright lights in my face. This was all to do with an audio disruption of my show, nothing more. For the record, I am happy for anyone to breastfeed a baby anywhere they like, as I feel it’s perfectly natural and therefore a nonissue to me."

People started flooding Arj's social media with angry comments about the situation after the baby's cousin, Danielle, posted about it on X. "Arj 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 he/she was ‘ruining his train of thought’," she posted. "Thanks to the countless women, and one grandfather, who left in protest. Atrocious. You’re in @cityofmelbourne at an International Comedy Festival. Have an ounce of respect."

However, Arj explained to Yahoo Lifestyle how being in that situation made him feel saying, "I felt really bad about having to ask her to leave but I made the decision on behalf of the 700 or so other punters there who deserved to watch my show, uninterrupted."

The comedian also emphasised that the event had been clearly stated as 'strictly age 15+'. "So ideally this could have all been avoided before it got to where it did, and no one would be upset right now, but unfortunately it fell in my lap."

He ended by saying, "I derived no enjoyment from the situation, nor do I harbour any animosity toward those who were/are upset by the situation and wish everyone peace and happiness."

Among the outrage, many also came to Arj's defence with one person writing on his Instagram, "When I finally have a kid-free night out at an adult event the last thing I want to listen to is a baby.. Yes, I’m a parent and I would never have taken my 7-month-old to a comedy gig. 7 months is also not a newborn! The theatre should have never put Arj in that situation."

Another chimed in saying, "As a Mum myself, I wouldn’t bring a baby to a comedy show! Babies are unpredictable and Mums should consider others in such an environment. Babies are welcome in other places, just not live theatres! Everyone paid to be entertained by Arj, not to be distracted by a baby!"

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Said another, "The entry ticket CLEARLY stated 15 years and over. No exceptions. as a father of a young lad I find it totally irresponsible for an adult to take a 7-month-old into a comedy show.

"What's also irresponsible is a parent thinking it's ok to expose a 7-month-old to 2 hours of excessive volume at such a young age. @arjbarker did the right thing for the bub and the audience."

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