funkymonkey
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Radio One fascistsLONDON (Reuters)
| Quote: | BBC Radio 1 programme has cut out the word "faggot" from an old Christmas hit in a move the mother of the song's late performer branded "ridiculous".
In "Fairytale of New York", released 20 years ago by Irish band the Pogues and singer Kirsty MacColl, she sings "You scumbag, you maggot/You cheap lousy faggot" as her character argues with that sung by Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan.
MacColl died in 2000 when she was killed by a speedboat off the coast of Mexico.
The song is a perennial favourite around Christmas time, and is once again battling for the lucrative number one spot in the charts this year. It has also topped several Best Christmas Song polls.
"Radio 1 are playing an edited version of the Fairytale of New York that does not include the world 'faggot' as this is a word that members of our audience would find offensive," the BBC said in a statement.
A spokeswoman said the word was "faded down" on air, rather than bleeped out.
But MacColl's mother Jean, speaking on the BBC Radio 5 Live programme, called the ban "too ridiculous".
"These are a couple of characters," she said, referring to the characters in the song.
"Today we have a lot of a gratuitous vulgarity and ... whatever from people all over which I think is quite unnecessary. These are characters and they speak like that."
A spokeswoman for the band said they would be amused to hear about Radio 1's decision.
"This song now goes with Christmas like the queen's speech and mince pies, and all of a sudden it's offensive," she said. "It strikes me as very odd and I'm sure the band will be very amused." |
Twats! the lot of them!
Honestly things like this makes my piss boil! Just get over yourselves and leave things alone grrrrrrrr! 
Pompous, self righteous imbeciles!
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KF
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the problem is that people often moan about these things, like chris moyles was slated by gay groups and bothered for ages after calling a ringtone 'gay' which is a phrase that i hear all the time. Radio1 obviously doesn't want any more trouble so is being ultra sensitive
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Diane
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^ How bloody ridiculous after all these years and now they decide its offensive. I'm surprised they didn't bleep out scumbag and maggot and make it a hatrick 
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funkymonkey
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Hahahaha 
The farce is complete! Radio One have just had a newsflash from the controller of Radio One and they say they are reversing the decision due to public outrage.
Fools!
At least they backed down in the end I suppose.
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Diane
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^Well at least people power won in the end but blimey this is the 21st century its not like they are saying the C word now is it?
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Penny
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They always fade out the word 'faggot' from that song on TV shows, don't they? I think they do it on daytime radio shows here too. I could be wrong though, I don't really listen to much daytime radio...
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Flakey Sugar Butt
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PC instanity is taking over the world. It's crazy.
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Lou Cipher
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What the fuck happened to the concept of freedom of speech. The BBC are funded by us and yet make ludicrous decisions that alienate the very people they're supposed to be answerable to. Time for an overhaul at the Beeb.
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Flakey Sugar Butt
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I was listening to this song on my Christmas Cd today whilst tidying the house (ick) and had a little chuckle to myself. Then made a point of singing those words EXTRA loudly, which is a bit sad but I felt the need Lol!
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