The Pogues and Kirstie McCall’s song ‘Fairytale of New York’ was voted the greatest Christmas songs of all time in 2017 and remains a staple in Irish households but one part of the song remains a contentious issue – the word ‘faggot’.
Eoin McDermott, an RTÉ DJ, shared his thoughts about the song on Twitter and the impact it has on his gay colleagues. In a series of tweets the radio presenter openly spoke about why he thinks the song needs to censored:
This debate rolls around again. I asked the two gay members of my team how they feel, since faggot is their N word. If people want to slur the gay community, this is their most powerful weapon. One favours censoring, the other outright not playing it. Neither like it. Simples. https://t.co/vNaPByZJ7J
— Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) December 4, 2018
Phrases that have zero social utility should fall away. Enough vitriol out there without gay people having to feel uncomfortable so people that aren’t affected by an insult can tap their toe. Black Eyed Peas “Let’s Get Retarded” changed to “Let’s Get It Started” – rightly so.
— Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) December 4, 2018
Nobody complained. The fact this song is a classic isn’t a strong enough defense to not at least censor it. We censor shit, fuck, ass, weed and loads of other comparatively benign words in songs. It’s not a big ask.
— Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) December 4, 2018
I don’t think you’d say that as a defense if you asked the two gay members of the show team how they feel about hearing the word faggot on daytime radio about 200 times every Christmas just because it’s a popular song. Or would that be your genuine response? Curious? https://t.co/Vmep3atcfQ
— Eoghan McDermott (@eoghanmcdermo) December 4, 2018
The internet is divided by the lyrics of the song. One side is calling it a move by ‘snowflakes’ and the ‘thought police’ to censor a classic and the other sees it as a reminder of homophobic attitudes:
amazing how people are still out there trying to defend f***** in fairytale of new york when….you can just swap it out for braggart and have the same tone and vague rhyming scheme ?
— carol (2015) is a christmas movie (@dilinaga) December 5, 2018
Why the FUCK is 2018 ruining Christmas songs? ‘Baby, it’s cold outside’ and ‘Fairytale of New York’, they were written in different times, you’ve listened to them your whole life, grow [email protected]
— Dj Paul McArdle (@Djpaulmcardle) December 5, 2018
Ha, so now they’re whining about the Pogues Fairytale of New York using the word faggot. ? Any gay folks actually offended by this or is it just snowflakes getting offended on behalf as per usual?
— Paul ?? (@succisavirescit) December 5, 2018
The thought police now want ‘Fairytale of New York’ censored for being homophobic. Seriously. This song is a work of art written by one of our finest living songwriters. It is pop music as poetry. Grow up and stop retrospectively policing creativity. It’s embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/evEkIxhir2
— Hmmm? Hmmm. (@ScouseRepublic) December 5, 2018
I get the yearly backlash to “cheap lousy faggot” in Fairytale of New York but I find it very weird that everyone’s just ok with “you’re an old slut on junk”.
— Sara Barnard (@saramegan) December 5, 2018
A number of tweets note the songs original intention of the word ‘faggot’ as a term coined by scousers to describe a lazy person and not the homophobic slur:
Literally laughing at all the Americans who think the use of the word f*ggot in Fairytale of New York is homophobic. In Irish terms, and intended meaning of the use of the word, it means a lazy person. “You cheap lousy f*ggot” literally means “you cheap lousy lazy person” pic.twitter.com/RwnjYcO1cW
— Zoë Michelle (scorpio) (@fringyswiftie) December 5, 2018
The Pogues being a british celtic punk band and Kristy MacColl a british singer reckon this more what they meant in Fairytale of New York rather than the homophobic slur used in the States pic.twitter.com/yZBs7GchWx
— Shanta Baby (@shnowley1699) December 5, 2018
While the song remains uncensored on Irish radio, the BBC has censored out the songs use of ‘slut’ and ‘faggot’ to “avoid offence”.
