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NY Post
New York Post
16 Jun 2023


NextImg:I took my 10-month-old to a heavy metal festival — people say I risked my baby’s life

This rocker mom is going pedal to the metal.

A defiant headbanger who took her 10-month-old baby to Britain’s biggest heavy metal music festival says she’ll do it again next year — despite critics claiming she “risked the tot’s life.”

Lauren McAuley, 30, has attended the annual Download Festival in Leicestershire, England multiple times in the past, even rocking out at the event while heavily pregnant.

Last August, McAuley welcomed daughter Lemmy into the world and decided to bring the baby along to this year’s three-day festival, which kicked off Wednesday.

The proud mom shared a snap of her adorable daughter at the event on social media, with the image showing the little one sporting headphones while sitting in front of a soundstage.

However, trolls quickly pounced on metalhead McAuley, accusing her of putting little Lemmy in danger.

“I feel like some people just don’t realize how packed and dangerous Download [Festival] can be, especially for young children,” one critic chastised.

Another chimed in with their unsolicited opinion, stating: “With the heat being so intense… it would have been like an oven in there. Little babies can’t regulate their temperature. Was speaking to a lady who’s a midwife and she’s really worried about it!”

Lauren McAuley, 30, has attended the annual Download Festival in Leicestershire, England multiple times in the past and decided to bring her 10-month-old daughter Lemmy along this year.
Kennedy News and Media
The proud mom shared a snap of her adorable daughter at the event to social media — and haters pounced.
The proud mom shared a snap of her adorable daughter at the event to social media — and haters pounced.
Kennedy News and Media

“It is not a safe environment for a small child,” a third declared. “There are too many drunken/drugged-up idiots around to risk a child’s life.”

However, McAuley has clapped back, calling her haters “judgmental a–holes” in an interview with Kennedy News.

“People are just really miserable,” she stated. “You know, you’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t”

“I personally really like spending time with my kid so I don’t have a problem with taking her,” she continued. “Some parents like leaving their kids and getting a break, but not everybody has that option. I could have, but I didn’t want to.”

McAuley insisted that the event was safe for her 10-month-old daughter, saying the festival catered to new parents.
McAuley insisted that the event was safe for her 10-month-old daughter, saying the festival catered to new parents.
Kennedy News and Media
Despite the blaring music, the mom said Lemmy was unfazed by the crowds and loud music.
Despite the blaring music, the mom said Lemmy was unfazed by the crowds and loud music.
Kennedy News and Media

McAuley insisted that the event was safe for her 10-month-old daughter, saying the festival catered to new parents.

“They had a child-friendly area this year called ‘Mini Moshers,’ where they had baby changing facilities,” the rocker revealed.

And despite the blaring music, the mom said Lemmy, who shares the same name as late Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister, was unfazed by the crowds and loud music.

“Because it was really hot, she slept through most of it to be honest,” she stated, describing her daughter as “completely chilled out.”

“She slept through the Metallica set and Bring Me The Horizon set,” McAuley continued. “Lemmy had ear defenders on for the music and copious amounts of sunscreen. I got a really good pram fan so we had no problem at all.”

McAuley said the experience was so easy and enjoyable that she's bringing Lemmy back to the festival next year, intent on creating a mini-me metalhead — haters be damned.
McAuley said the experience was so easy and enjoyable that she’s bringing Lemmy back to the festival next year, intent on creating a mini-me metalhead — haters be damned.
Kennedy News and Media
"I feel like some people just don't realize how packed and dangerous Download [Festival] can be, especially for young children," one critic chastised.
“I feel like some people just don’t realize how packed and dangerous Download [Festival] can be, especially for young children,” one critic chastised.
Kennedy News and Media

McAuley claimed that the experience was so easy and enjoyable that she’s bringing Lemmy back to the festival next year, intent on creating a mini-me metalhead — haters be damned.

“I honestly never had one issue,” she declared.