Tabloids attack Lily Allen for quoting the word ‘fags’
British singer and musician Lily Allen poses for photographers as she arrives for the World Premiere of “PAN” in London’s Leicester Square on September 20, 2015. AFP PHOTO / NIKLAS HALLE’N (Photo credit should read NIKLAS HALLE’N/AFP/Getty Images)
Singer Lily Allen has been attacked by the Daily Mail for quoting a sign reading ‘Fags Hates Trump’.
The singer released a cover of Rufus Wainwright’s track Going To A Town this week, after taking part in protests against the new US President.
But she attracted flack from tabloids after sharing an article about the track written by Gay Times Magazine on Twitter.
The picture for the article featured a sign at the protest reading ‘Fags Hate Trump’ – a reference to infamous Westboro Baptist Church slogan ‘God Hates Fags’.
However, after Allen quoted the slogan from the picture, a string of tabloids slammed her for the tweet – with The Sun and Daily Mail both posting articles that failed to fully explain the context of the words.
In response to a flurry of messages, Allen pointed out: “It’s on the poster on the picture”.
Veteran LGBT activist Peter Tatchell leaped to her defence, adding: “The fuss over placard ‘Fags Hate Trump’ is well-intentioned but misguided. ‘Fags’ is not used with insulting intent.
“Placard is held by gay person who’s using the word fags in a positive, affirming way, as gesture of pride & defiance.
“The way fags was used was not derogatory but proud and defiant.”
He added: “Congratulations Lily Allen for your hauntingly beautiful, powerful and moving anti-Trump version of Going To A Town.”
Listen to the track below:
