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THE BBC HAS defended the use of the word ‘f****t’ in a performance of The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York on the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special.
During the show, characters Nessa and Uncle Bryan, played by Ruth Jones and Rob Brydon, sang the song, including the word ‘f****t’.
There has been a debate in recent years about whether the word should be censored in the song. Recently, Shane McGowan said he had included the word in the song because it fit with the way the flawed character would speak but that he is “absolutely fine” with it being censored.
There was criticism of the decision not to change the word in the Christmas special:
Beth Fisher / Twitter
Beth Fisher / Twitter / Twitter
The BBC defended the choice. A spokesperson said: “Fairytale of New York is a very popular, much-loved Christmas song played widely throughout the festive season, and the lyrics are well established with the audience.”
In an interview with The Sun, Ruth Jones who co-wrote the show, also spoke about the decision to stick to the original lyrics.
“It is a different climate. But we have to remain true to the characters, to who they were,” she said.
“Characters in Gavin and Stacey are kind and big-hearted, I believe. So I think no one is going to be intentionally hurtful. But by the same token, they’re not necessarily going to be completely politically correct or be aware of political correctness.”
Gavin and Stacey was the most watched show on Christmas Day with 11.6 million viewers.
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Why is everyone so sensitive and woke?
@Keith ☘️: how could you ask something like that without considering my feelings!? I feel personally attacked and need a safe space!
@Eoin O’C: I’m traumatised just by seeing your pain!
@Fachtna Roe: Etc.
@Fachtna Roe: I’m offended that your tramatised by seeing Eoin’s pain :) lol
@Eoin O’C: get a bloody grip you absolute fool
@James Molloy: if you honestly thought I was being serious, then you, sir, are an idiot.
@James Molloy: too much sauce James?
When I was growing up (I’m about the same age as Shane McGowan) fagg0t was a common word but it was not a gay slur. It meant a layabout (which fits with the context of the song). The gay slur context was an American import and not used in Ireland during the sixties and most of the seventies.
@Henry Porter: Well said, Cant do or say anything nowadays with the snowflake generation. Soon (If not already) You wont be able to say snowflake. It’s a song get over it!
@Henry Porter: that’s my memory too, the amount of times me mammy called me a lazy fag.g.ot during the school holidays when I refused to get a summer job…ah the memories
@Conoroconnor: we related? My mother was the same lol
@Barry: you mean it’s not???
@Henry Porter: exactly. When I was young my mother would call me that usually followed by kick in the behind. She’d probably get a jail sentence these days. Still miss her. Happy Christmas Mammy.
@Barry: throughout the 90’s my granny would have called me a “little f@ggot” instead of using a bad word like “b@ll@cks”. How times have changed.
If something isn’t intended to be offensive, it shouldn’t be perceived as offensive. Look for the tone of the language, and the context in which it is used. In other words, use some cop on
@Barry: Hi. I’ve never met a real live snowflake before.
@Barry: we should reclaim that word for its original (fairly innocuous) meaning. We can’t let the haters dictate our language.
What strikes me is why is The Journal banning the word ” F/A/G/G/O/T ” in this story?
@Mark Johnson: exactly
@Mark Johnson: obviously covering themselves cos there is a lot of snowflakes out there…..
@Karl C: Snowflakes or not, is there any chance of borrowing a Butt from anyone as I am all out of Cigs and I badly need a drag.
@Mark Johnson: I’d prefer it referred to as ‘Bundle of sticks’ henceforth
@Karl C: Blizzard conditions if you ask me.
Offence is always taken, but never given, it’s all subjective and depends on context too.
@Ronan Walsh:
Ah shut up!
;-)
@Cormac Laffan: ask me hole :-)
I’d love to know how many people complained or were offended. Just a few of the usual heads on twitter, I’d say. Are we going to go back now and rewrite Shakespeare, Hemmingway, edit or bleep movies and old television series? We would need to start with the bible!
Ah I think the world has gone way to political correct,
I’m gay but I take no offence to this song, nor does any gay person I know. Its all about context. I’d bet that the majority of complaints were from straight people who are professional whingers
@Ger: Nice one.
@Ger: what’s you being gay got to do with it? Your implication is that it must be ok if a gay lad isn’t offended by it.
Its a great line in a great song, end of
@Marco: Are you serious? Jaysus….too much booze over Christmas!!
The world’s gone mad it’s only a song
@Brendan Hughes: it’s only a meatball!
The best thing on Christmas TV by a furlong.
@Anthony John Cotter: Ha, ha, ha, ha………..oh you’re being serious.
David Norris who is gay said himself it’s a song get over it, he doesn’t take offence to it but the snow flake generation seem to take offence for everyone else
@Happy entertainment: Hypothetically speaking if the Journal ran an article by Norris denouncing the song would you agree with him then?
@Keelan O’neill: that makes somewhere between little and no sense
Just gobsh*tes with little to be worried about
“Woke” is soooo 2018, do people not realize it’s now unfashionable to get offended over everything. Even Obama said it was ridiculous.
Affs. Not again.
Peak snowflake generation
I must wrap up warm tonight. There’s so many snowflakes
Im offended that Ruth Jones spoke to an illiterate rag like the s#n
Why are people so upset of a bundle of sticks
It’s one of the most iconic Christmas songs know in every part of the world and tops the ratings every year. The only problem with the song is it wasn’t wrote and composed by an British twerp and so they don’t get the lime light so instead the British have had to find away of running it by blackening the word fa**ot and labeling it completely wrong and offensive within the LGBT community. Where actually 80% of people take no offense and enjoy the song.
@Declan Finn: sorry to ruin your rant but the song was co written by Jem Finer who is as English as they come.
Finer came up with the melody and the original concept. Shane added the magic and tweaked the lyrics and the rest as they say…
Other than that, I agree the content of your post but remember also that there are a lot of Irish who also object to the lyric.
As usual the twitter left wing minority win
I’m sure that the quare fellow Behan, together with Joyce, Beckett, J.B. Keane and O’Casey would break their Butts laughing at the Nonsense of the attention the word is getting. Errrr by the way could I borrow a Butt from anyone.
Why are the kids going bat $hit crazy over the term f****t, but the use of the term $lut seems acceptable…
Likely to be perceived as toxic7.6/10
@Robin Basstard: I fart in your general direction, your mother was a hamster and your fatheer smelled of elderberries
Likely to be perceived as toxic 8.3/10
Snowflake is a disgusting word and should not be allowed….
@popeye Doyle: I’m offended by the offence you took by the word snowflake.
They should not have to defend its use.
“But even if it offends one person” that tweet says. That’s a very dangerous way of thinking and they don’t even realise it.
Never been offended by a bundle of sticks before.
nobody gets up in arms about him branding his girl a slut tho, because no one forking cares about the recitation of a drunken argument where two people were TRYING to insult each other… you know, like happens in real life. STUPID BLOODY DEBATE! eff off
How are they offended by this and not the fact that James Corden is in it?
2019, the year of the woke snowflake. May they melt in the heat of their moral rectitude.
L
There seems to be a lot of people offended in the comment section about the backlash the BBC received for the inclusion of the word. If you’re getting offended are you the oversensitive snowflake? In my opinion BBC missed an opportunity to censor a word so many people have been asking to be censored for years. What’s gonna happen if it’s censored? By the time next Christmas rolls around everyone will be used to it (and over it), and the LGBT of Ireland who do take offence to the word will feel one step closer to living in a country completely free of homophobia. Context shmontext, gay kids have been bullied at school, kicked out by their parents, self harmed and committed suicide, and have had this nasty word shouted at them a hundred times in the process. Just leave it out.
@Amy Quinn: so should we obliterate the words bitch and slut from every film or artistic piece? lots of words have been used to taunt others. it’s just idiotic to try and deny negativity exists and this is a document of a slanderous exchange.
I’m outraged and offended on behalf of all those people who I think ought to be outraged and offended by this but aren’t because they couldn’t care less.
have your say