Amazon's Alexa refuses to play Fairytale Of New York due to song's 'explicit lyrics'
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Amazon's Alexa refuses to play Fairytale Of New York due to song's 'explicit lyrics'

AMAZON'S Alexa is now refusing to play Fairytale Of New York because the song is deemed to be too offensive.

Pogues fans with Amazon's voice-activated 'virtual assistant' found that they were suddenly unable to play the Christmas smash-hit, with the company seemingly banning the song "overnight".

The only way you can hear the song is by turning off Alexa's 'profanity filter', but fans are annoyed that they have to go to extra lengths to play the song they love.

"Alexa was playing it fine one minute, then overnight decided it was offensive," one Pogues fan told the Irish Sun.

"I can play it by turning off the explicit lyrics filter I have for my kids."

The 1987 classic has been the subject of controversy almost every Christmas for the last few years, due to the use of a slur which many deem to be homophobic.

Last month, BBC Radio 1 announced they would be playing a censored version of the song this Christmas, with the potentially offensive lyrics removed.

The late Kirsty MacColl, who stars alongside Shane MacGowan in the song, recorded an alternative version of the hit, with the word 'f****t' swapped out for 'haggard', and this is the version Radio 1 have chosen to use.

Fairytale Of New York is widely regarded as one of the greatest Christmas songs of all time, and is thought to be the most played one of all time.

Many have criticised the BBC for tampering with a such a beloved staple of Christmas, in spite of the not so savoury lyrics.