Babies at Comedy Shows? Arj Barker, Boundaries, and the Case for Adult-Only Spaces

Comedian Arj Barker

At a comedy show in Melbourne, comedian Arj Barker found himself in a situation that—depending on who you ask—was either a boundary-setting win or a parenting scandal. A baby in the audience started making noise during his set. After several interruptions, Barker made a call: he asked the breastfeeding mother to leave the theater. Cue the outrage.

But let’s set the emotional reactions aside for a second and look at the real issue here.

This isn’t about breastfeeding. This isn’t about hating babies. It’s about one question: Should babies be brought to events that are clearly not meant for them?

The show in question had a 15+ age recommendation. It was held at the Athenaeum Theatre. Hardly a stroller-friendly venue. And yet, the conversation quickly shifted from event etiquette to a “mom-shaming” controversy.

The mother, Trish Faranda, said she felt humiliated. She claimed she had a plan to leave if the baby became disruptive, but the reality is, that moment came and went. The sounds were distracting. The audience noticed. The comedian noticed. And the show—one that hundreds of people paid to attend—was repeatedly interrupted.

Let’s talk about what’s really going on here: We’re watching, in real time, a growing cultural discomfort with adult-only spaces.

The Entitlement to Be Everywhere

There’s a difference between being family-friendly and being family-required. Not every space needs to cater to children. And just because a parent wants to do something doesn’t mean the setting is right for a baby.

We’ve reached a point where the boundaries between adult and family spaces are being blurred, and not in a good way. Some parents have developed an expectation that the world should accommodate their kids at all times, in all places.

But parenthood comes with trade-offs. And one of them is accepting that some events, experiences, and environments aren’t going to be baby-compatible.

That’s not discrimination or parent-shaming. That’s reality.

The Right to a Distraction-Free Experience

Let’s not forget about the other 700 people in the audience. They also made plans. They also paid for a ticket. And they didn’t sign up for a night of comedy plus impromptu baby noises.

Performers rely on timing, flow, and focus—especially in comedy. When a crying baby (or anything) breaks that rhythm, it impacts everyone. Barker didn’t eject the mother on a whim; he made a judgment call for the good of the group and offered her a refund as a goodwill gesture. That’s not cruelty. It’s accountability.

The truth is, childfree or not, we all have moments in life when we need to adjust our plans. Parents aren’t being targeted when asked to respect the intended audience of an event. They’re being reminded that they’re part of a shared space.

Adult-Only Spaces Matter

We need to stop apologizing for wanting time away from children. Adult-only spaces aren’t selfish, they’re sacred. They allow people to show up fully, relax, engage, and enjoy without worrying about noise, interruptions, or content filters. They’re not a rejection of kids—they’re simply a recognition that not everything is for everyone.

Part of our philosophy at That Childfree Life is honoring the space we take up, and the space we don’t want to. It also means holding firm to the idea that adult joy, leisure, and entertainment deserve the same level of respect and protection that family spaces do.

The Bottom Line

Babies don’t belong at stand-up comedy shows. Not because they aren’t adorable. Not because we’re anti-parent. But because not all places are for everyone at all times.

And that’s okay.

Respecting boundaries isn’t exclusion. It’s maturity. And in this case, the real disruption isn’t a crying infant—it's the growing expectation that the world should rearrange itself around one.

We’re all for inclusion where it makes sense. But adult spaces should still exist and we shouldn’t feel bad for wanting to keep them that way.