• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Radio 2 changes decision on airing Fairytale Of New York's offensive slur

Home> Entertainment

Published 15:26 1 Dec 2022 GMT

Radio 2 changes decision on airing Fairytale Of New York's offensive slur

BBC Radio 2 have decided to switch to a censored version of Fairytale of New York

Joe Harker

Joe Harker

It's December, and that means everyone holding back their mighty tide of festive joy for the sake of decency and decorum can finally open the floodgates.

You can now wear your Christmas jumper, stick on The Muppet Christmas Carol as many times as you want and listen to all the Christmas music your heart desires.

Of course, that means it's also time for the same seasonal arguments to rear their heads such as whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie, or if the lyrics to 'Baby It's Cold Outside' are sexist.

One of these most popular debates rages around what might be the most popular Christmas song of all time, 'Fairytale of New York' by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl.

It's one of the most iconic songs of all time and a real favourite whenever people get drunk enough this time of year to decide they'll have a crack at karaoke.

Advert

However, there's one line in the song some people reckon should be censored and you can probably already guess which one it is.

That's right, it's the part where Kirsty MacColl sings 'you scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy f****t', which causes some obvious problems as that's a homophobic slur.

In recent years plenty of broadcasters have decided to play a censored version of the song, swapping the offending lyric out for 'you're cheap and you're haggard' by cleverly splicing in some audio of MacColl singing a revised version.

Kirsty MacColl and the Pogues worked on one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time.
Everett Collection Inc / Alamy Stock Photo

At the karaoke microphone, a lot of people like singing 'you taped over Taggart' as a funnier replacement.

Advert

Radio 2 is the latest broadcaster to make the switch, as it told HuffPostUK it had decided to play the censored version this Christmas, while other BBC radio stations will be able to 'choose the version of the song most relevant for their audience'.

They said: "On Radio 2 we are reflecting what we are hearing back from many of our listeners who love the song, but find some of the lyrics jarring in 2022, and playing an alternative version provided by the record company."

The BBC split opinion back in 2020 when Radio 1 decided to make the switch over to the censored version of 'Fairytale of New York' but Radio 2 continued with the original recording that some found offensive.

BBC Radio 2 have switched their stance and decided to play the censored version of 'Fairytale of New York'.
dac / Alamy Stock Photo

The Pogues lead singer Shane MacGowan previously defended the inclusion of the word 'f****t' in the iconic song, saying there's 'no political correctness to it'.

Advert

He said: "I've been told it's insulting to gays; I don't understand how that works. Nobody in the band thinks that's worth a second's thought.

"The word was used by the character because it fitted with the way she would speak and with her character.

"She is not supposed to be a nice person or even a wholesome person. She is a woman of a certain generation at a certain time in history and she is down on her luck and desperate.

"Her dialogue is as accurate as I could make it but she is not intended to offend! She is just supposed to be an authentic character.

"Not all characters in songs and stories are angels or even decent and respectable, sometimes characters in songs and stories have to be evil or nasty in order to tell the story effectively."

Advert

While he goes for the uncensored version himself, MacGowan has absolutely no problem with people removing the lyric if they find it offensive as he's not interested in arguing about it.

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/ThePoguesOfficial

Topics: Christmas, Music, BBC, News, UK News

Joe Harker
Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

X

@MrJoeHarker

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
23 hours ago
  • Instagram/jbayleafInstagram/jbayleaf
    8 hours ago

    Scarlett Johansson addressed relationship with male co-star as he shares intimate image of them

    The Jurassic World: Rebirth co-stars aren't shy about showing their affection for one another

    Entertainment
  • Getty/Manny CarabelGetty/Manny Carabel
    23 hours ago

    Meghan Trainor reveals dramatic body transformation after admitting she's used weight loss drug Mounjaro

    The singer dressed to impress while attending The Paper premiere with her husband Daryl Sabara on Wednesday

    Entertainment
  • Channel 4Channel 4
    23 hours ago

    Educating Yorkshire teacher won't appear in reboot after being banned from teaching

    The teacher was banned from the profession indefinitely

    Entertainment
  • ParamountParamount
    23 hours ago

    The ’small-penis-rule' could mean Donald Trump likely won’t be able to sue South Park for brutal episodes

    The rule could, in theory, protect the show's creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone from any legal trouble

    Entertainment
  • Eamonn Holmes uses offensive slur on live TV when asking Kerry Katona about appearance
  • Woman who lost fiancé and two sons in Boxing Day tsunami makes devastating admission on 20th anniversary
  • Racing presenter John Hunt makes emotional statement on why he returned to work nine weeks after family murdered
  • Viewers of new Nicola Bulley documentary in agreement over ‘disgusting’ reaction