Culture

Courtney Act on Fairytale of New York: If you’re straight don’t say ‘faggot’

Dec 13 2018
Written by PinkNews Staff Writer

Photo of Courtney Act and a still from the Fairytale of New York music video

Courtney Act: Straight people shouldn’t say ‘faggot’ in ‘Fairytale of New York.’

There’s a new (drag) queen of Christmas, Courtney Act, and she has some thoughts about straight people saying “faggot” in The Pogues’ Christmas classic “Fairytale of New York.”

Courtney Act began 2018 by winning Celebrity Big Brother—thus becoming one of TV’s hottest new commodities—and now the drag queen wraps her banner year with her very own Christmas special on Channel 4.

Courtney will ring in Christmas with Courtney Act’s Christmas Extravaganza, a fun-packed variety show featuring performances from Little Mix and Leona Lewis, on Christmas Eve.

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Twas the night before Christmas and on @channel4 Courtney Act’s Christmas Extravaganza saves you from bore! It will be on the telly at 11:05, so gather family around to get into the vibe! Courtney Act’s Christmas Extravaganza is on @channel4 on the 24th at 11:05pm Special guests and appearances by @leonalewis @littlemix @zaralarsson @adoredelano @thebiancadelrio @dariennelake @04jonpea @briefsfactory @alimcg @legateauchocolat @doctor.le.strange and @victoria_falconer This is my childhood Christmas wish come true, I hope you enjoy it!

A post shared by Courtney Act (@courtneyact) on Dec 10, 2018 at 4:56am PST

So, as the new queen of Christmas, who better to settle the decades-long debate about “Fairytale of New York” than Courtney?

Every year, people drunkenly sing along to The Pogues’ 1988 hit, which contains the rather problematic line: “You scumbag, you maggot / You cheap lousy faggot.”

Courtney Act: Straight people, “faggot” is not for you

Courtney’s verdict on the “Fairytale of New York” debate is simple: If you’re not queer, it’s not your word to say.

Should straight people be able to sing faggot in Fairytale of New York? @courtneyact gives her verdict. https://t.co/NoL7pKCsNl pic.twitter.com/HOMJywM8Ao

— PinkNews (@PinkNews) 13 December 2018

“A similar thing I can think of is the use of the N-word in hip-hop and rap music,” Courtney tells PinkNews.

“I know that whilst that word is in there and I listen to it, I know it’s not for me and I’m fine with that. I think that you could apply the same logic [to “Fairytale of New York”].”

Courtney continued: “I feel like, if you’re singing along and you don’t identify as a faggot, then you shouldn’t use that word.”

Of course, 1988 was a very different time and acceptable vocabulary was not as inclusive as it is now.

Says Courtney: “You can’t go back and delete stuff from history. Like, when they tried to erase the N-word from Huckleberry Finn. You just have to explain to people that we don’t use that language and that there was a time when that language was acceptable… but this is how far we’ve come.”

So, there you have it. Straight people, next time “Fairytale of New York” is playing in the pub, don’t be that person stumbling around singing “faggot.” Sip your mulled wine instead.

Courtney Act’s Christmas Extravaganza airs on Christmas Eve at 11.05pm on Channel 4.