Money For Nothing: Faggots On The Radio

"The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has ruled that "Money for Nothing," a Dire Straits hit from 1985, is too offensive for Canadian airwaves. The song is being singled out for the repeated use of an anti-gay slur — "that little faggot" — in its second verse," reports Rolling Stone online.
Radio stations have been told to play an alternative version of the song with the f-word replaced with "mother".
Can't happen here?
Readers with something approaching a memory may recall that in December 2007 there was a bit of a hue and cry when BBC Radio 1 began playing a version of "Fairytale of New York" that lost the offending word in the line "You cheap lousy faggot" (They also lost the word "slut").
Radio 1 not being desperately committed to tackling homophobia they swiftly caved in to criticism and began playing the original version once more.
It's become a bit of a cliche for gay journalists to go; "Well, I don't find it offensive..." - it became rather popular and tedious when Eminem broke big, and when Bruno was released - cause getting angry's just so passé...
I think Fagburn may even have initially joined in with some manful scoffing at this "censorship".
The most thoughtful piece written about the Fairytale debacle was Popjustice editor Peter Robinson's 'Why Radio One Were Right To Censor Fairytale Of New York'.
Read it - you might learn something.

Brüno's Gaybashing Friends Sued

Self-confessed gay journalist, Mike Skiff, is suing Sacha Baron Cohen claiming he was assaulted by members of his film crew during location filming for Brüno in 2008, according to TMZ.
Seems Mr Baron Cohen didn't like Mr Skiff outing him when he appeared in character at a pro-gay demonstration in California against Proposition 8 - which proposed banning gay marriage in the state.
TMZ also claim the lawsuit alleges members of the Brüno crew "carried 'Yes on Proposition 8' signs contrived for the sole purpose of inciting and sparking unrest to enhance the dramatic effect of what they may capture for their film" - meaning they pretended to be homophobes protesting a gay rights rally to manufacture confrontation for their movie.
Only it looks like some of the crew weren't protesting.
Skiff was "physically yanked" and harrassed and intimidated by members of the film crew - Skiff filmed all this.
It makes for pretty grim viewing, especially towards the end when members of the Bruno film crew can be seen chanting "Yes to 8" at Skiff.
Interesting to note that Brüno was made by a bunch of homophobic bullyboys.
Watch Mike Skiff's film here.

Queen Biopic: Barot Bruno Mercury

Fagburn isn't sure whether this sounds like a joke - or too good to be true.
Brian May has told the BBC's HARDtalk Sacha Baron Cohen will play Freddie Mercury in a new film about Queen.
"We have Sacha Baron Cohen, which will probably be a shock to a lot of people, but he's been talking with us for a long time."
Why Baron Cohen? Cause he played gay in Bruno?
Or because of that tache in Borat?
Peter Morgan is writing the screenplay - who ironically is best known for the film 'The Queen', about another old queen, albeit one who's much less popular with the great British public.
Some have already noted the clear dramatic sweep in Freddie Mercury's lifestory.
The film will supposedly end on the high of Queen's appearance at Live Aid - which could mean it will be heavy with dramatic irony.
And at least it can't be any worse than that fucking musical.