Jason Bateman has come under fire for his questioning of Charli XCX regarding her decision not to have children during a recent episode of his podcast, Smartless. The episode, which aired on March 11, 2024, featured Bateman alongside co-hosts Sean Hayes and Will Arnett. It quickly became a focal point of controversy, with listeners criticizing Bateman’s approach to a sensitive topic.
The discussion began when Charli shared her experiences growing up as an only child, mentioning how it affected her ability to handle conflict compared to friends with siblings. Bateman then posed a direct question: “Does that mean you’d love to have more than one kid, or would you like to have a child who had the same sort of experience as you?” Charli’s response, “I actually don’t really want to have kids,” prompted a surprised reaction from both Bateman and Hayes.
Bateman, who has two daughters aged 19 and 13, pressed further, asking, “No, none?” Hayes, also child-free, interjected with a curious, “Wait? Why?” before acknowledging, “It’s not really any of my business.” Despite this, Bateman continued to inquire about Charli’s choice, sharing his own family experience where his wife initially did not want children but later changed her mind.
Charli explained, “I love the fantasy of having a child, like naming it sounds so fun, but like that is exactly a sign to me as to why I should not have one.” She emphasized that the excitement surrounding the idea of naming a child made her question her readiness for parenthood. Bateman, not willing to drop the topic, speculated that Charli might change her mind if she found the right partner. Charli calmly reminded him, “Well, I’m married, so.”
Charli is married to George Daniel, the drummer for the band The 1975. The couple celebrated their union with two extravagant weddings in 2023, one in London and another in Sicily, Italy.
In an attempt to ease the tension, Bateman made light of his oversight, stating, “I got to read a newspaper one of these days.” To this, Charli responded with humor, “No. It’s OK. I knew immediately where you were gonna go, I knew my response, I was really looking forward to it.”
Listeners quickly took to social media to express their disapproval of Bateman’s line of questioning. Comments on platforms like Reddit highlighted a broader societal issue, with one user stating, “People with kids are so weird about people who don’t want to have kids.” Another remarked, “Why does society continue to pressure women, in particular, about having kids?”
Critics pointed out Bateman’s apparent lack of knowledge about Charli’s career, including her sixth album, Brat, which became a cultural phenomenon in 2024. The album’s hit single, “Brat Summer,” even played a role in political branding during Kamala Harris’s campaign to engage younger voters.
One Reddit user questioned, “Do these hosts not research the people who are coming to their podcasts?” They noted the podcast’s format, which often includes a mystery guest, may limit the hosts’ ability to prepare adequately. This has led to moments of awkwardness in past episodes when hosts were unfamiliar with their guests’ backgrounds.
Despite the backlash, the incident highlights the complexities of public conversations around personal choices, especially concerning family planning. As discussions about parenthood continue to evolve, the reactions to this podcast episode reflect a growing sensitivity to how such topics are approached in public forums.
