Reason.com: BBC Radio 1’s decision to remove the word “faggot” from the classic Christmas song Fairytale of New York angered their listeners until they finally reversed their decision.
It may have been done with the most progressive of intentions, but BBC Radio 1’s decision to censor a lyric from Kirsty MacColl and Shane McGowan’s Christmas standard Fairytale of New York looks rather to have backfired this morning.
A decision by Radio 1 chiefs has meant that Fairytale, a ballad apparently conducted between two rowing drunks, has been edited so as to obscure the lines “You cheap lousy faggot” and “an old slut on junk”, a decision that was criticised this morning by MacColl’s own mother.
The song had been played unedited for 20 years.
Pogues lyricist and singer Shane McGowen was asked to comment, but his answer was completely incoherent.
(via Metafilter)