Campaigners want Pogues’ Fairytale of New York censored over ‘homophobic’ lyric

Campaigners want the word ‘faggot’ banned from the Christmas classic ‘Fairytale of New York’.

Thomas Haynes wrote an article for student website ‘The Tab’ in which he claims the lyric from the festive classic is as bad as using the N-word.

He insisted party-goers should be barred from singing the line "you cheap lousy faggot" from the 1987 hit for being a "homophobic slur."

The student even questions why the video is allowed to remain on YouTube when none of The Pogues or guest singer Kirsty McColl are gay.

Meanwhile Irish DJ Eoghan McDermott called on his radio station RTE to censor the lyric, because it made gay people feel uncomfortable.

He said: "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."

However, others have been quick to point Shane MacGowan was referring to an old Irish slang word meaning a lazy person.

Haynes made his comments in an online article posted on yesterday entitled "Dear straight people, stop singing the word ‘faggot’ in Fairytale of New York".

In it, he also posts a link to a six-year-old video of Gary Barlow performing the song with Nicole Scherzinger, Tulisa and Dawn French, which he describes as "reeking of pre-2012".

He writes: "The scene of a packed crowd cheering on a straight woman for successfully uttering a homophobic slur is f*****g bull***t.

"Only when you take a step back does something seem off with that picture in 2018."

Fans flocked to social media to defend the lyric.

Aisling Daly said: "Fairytale of New York was written by an Irishman. ‘Faggot’ is an old Irish slang word for a lazy person or a waster, and that’s the meaning that Shane McGowan intended when he wrote the song. Nothing to do with homophobia."

Sophia Alexandria put: "Faggot is an old word for an unpleasant woman. It’s also Irish slang, and considering the age of the song, my guess it wasn’t written with any considerations of future uses of the word.

"Why is everyone so offended by everything nowadays? Get a grip."

Steven McCarthy-Hunt added: "You really have absolutely no idea what this song is really about, do you? Hint: it’s not you."

Mark David Johnson wrote: "I can’t tell if this is serious or not. Bore off you f*****g snowflake."

Rob Lawson added: "I’m gay and I say sing it loud!"

Stephanie Leigh commented: "Faggot is also an historical Americanism for a contemptuous women. Which ironically he’s singing about. Not everything is to do with homophobia.

"Clearly a straight male singing to his straight counterpart isn’t going to be throwing homophobic words at her. Use your brains before your mouths"

Kiefer Brown said: "Not only is faggot or used in a derogatory way in the song it has some different meaning to the Irish, it’s not remotely offensive at all… get off your high horse and loosen the f**k up cos I’ve never met a single gay offended by this in my life."

The ‘offending’ lyrics:

You’re a bum

You’re a punk

You’re an old slut on junk

Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed

You scumbag, you maggot

You cheap lousy faggot

Happy Christmas your arse

I pray God it’s our last

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