Nottingham comedian Matt Forde has blasted parents whose crying baby disrupted his show. The political satirist and Spitting Image voiceover star complained that it derailed large parts of his touring show 'Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right' at the Edinburgh Fringe because "they wouldn't do the decent thing and just leave when it started crying."
Speaking out on Twitter, the comic said: "I get that it must be tough as a new parent but please, don't bring babies to adult shows. It's always a problem." He went on to say that he realised his tweet sounded "whiny" but explained that he'd spoken out to make sure it didn't happen again.
"It's like someone's phone continually ringing and them not turning it off. I've had so many messages from people who were there last night who were very polite about the fact it p***ed them off."
Read more: Couple sell everything to travel world and visit every country with their baby
The show has an age limit of 14+. His comments divided opinion over whether babies should be taken to gigs but the vast majority agreed with the comic.
@IceSolitaire posted: "How can someone be that selfish to think they are entitled to bring a baby to a gig? It’s not the place. People pay tickets to be entertained not listen to your kid screaming their head off. It’s bad enough in places where you would expect screaming kids but to pay money? Nope!"
"Completely agree. I'm a parent who breast fed my children to a year. I had to fit around my parenting role for that year not my social life! A very small price to pay to bring a human life into this world," commented @heneghan_sharon
@notreallymelads said: "It's genuinely rubbish having to miss stuff because you can't get the kids watched. I wouldn't take my children even a babe in arms to a comedy show though. It's one of those things you have to accept being a parent that you might miss things, surely?"
@groomyd wrote: "It’s tough being a parent of infants, you don’t want to be isolated. Here is the thing - bring your baby, but you have to leave it if the baby starts to cry. That’s the deal."
Not everyone sympathised with Mr Forde, who is known for the voices of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson in Spitting Image, and the Political Party Podcast.
@demolition99 posted: "As long as you realise this is incredibly sexist as young, breastfed babies can’t be left at home. I hope your t&cs made it clear that no babies were allowed at your show & if so surely it is a problem for your door staff or are u happy to take peoples money then shame them?"
Parent @sarahraymundo23 retorted: "Good grief. Well if I ever planned to come to a show I certainly won't be any more! What an attitude to have as a parent of 2, I'd be feeling sorry for the parent of the crying baby - it's hard enough without this kind of attitude!"
Actor Aasif Mandvi, of The Daily Show, came to his defence saying: "As a parent myself I don’t understand why parents are piling on here. This is a perfectly reasonable request. If you’re going to an adult show then get child care. If you can’t, then don’t go until you can or remove yourself if the child starts crying. Get over yourselves ppl."
Fellow comedian Shappi Khorsandi commented: "I hear you but personally I'm fine with it and say yes when asked if babes in arms are allowed. We just make sure they have a seat near the door so they can slip the f*** out if the little b*****d cries."
A baby was in the crowd at Chris Ramsay's gig at Nottingham Playhouse in 2014. When the comedian returned in 2018 he told the audience: "About four or five years ago I was stood on this exact stage and someone decided to bring a six-month-old baby to my show," he said.
"I never thought I'd get heckled by someone so young. Just to check, is everyone here above the age of six months old?"
READ NEXT:
