British journalist John Gapper received loads of criticism yesterday after describing Rachel Maddow as a “chirpy gay liberal.” Feeling a unfairly attacked, Gapper took to his blog today to explain his comments, which he says were woefully misconstrued:
One is the meaning of the word âchirpyâ. To me, and to most British people, chirpy means lively and fun. I used it because one of Ms Maddowâs appealing qualities is that she is humorous and cheerful, a welcome contrast of the self-aggrandising, bombastic style of various of her male counterparts (I will not mention any names, for fear of yet more emails).
Unfortunately, a lot of US readers seem to have taken chirpy to mean bird-brained and irritating, so they got annoyed. That was not what I meant.
The second problem was my describing her as gay when I did not mention the sexuality of anyone else in the piece (or indeed my own). In fact, Ms Maddow is gay, and openly so, as noted in some recent articles about her, including this one in the New York Times.
I included it because I thought it said something interesting about the US culture wars (yes the ones that I strayed into) that a gay woman was now one of the most popular talk show hosts on American television.
Well, it’s not that interesting – all the right-wing folk watch Fox News, anyway, so they may not even know Maddow exists. (Well, except Tim Graham, who’s afraid of lesbians.)
Steff
Yeah, over here in the UK ‘chirpy’ is kinda an affectionate term.
Alexa
My English friend who loves Rachel once described her as chirpy, so it’s definitely cool.
And imagine that, a gay woman as one of the most popular talk show hosts on American television. Apparently that’s something we’re good at đ
Smartypants
Well, aside from Rachel having a news show, we do seem to be down with the lesbian talk show hosts — Ellen, Rosie, the neverending rumors about Oprah…
Actually, now that I think about it, there seem to be more dyke desk jockeys than straight women.
EdWoody
As a fellow Brit, I agree with this guy. This is a non-story.
Valpy
I’m another Brit and agree this is not an issue. A minor cultural misunderstanding.
Every time you Americans say ‘fanny’ it makes me giggle like an immature schoolboy.
Tee-hee!
BJ
Well any nitwit who thinks you meant “bird brained” only shows the reader as a bird brain.
In this country (US), chirpy throughout time has meant talkative, a chatterbox.
no big deal.. she is a chatterbox-
Bitch Republic
I’m no Brit, but when I first read it, “chirpy” made me think “lively” and “cheerful.”
http://www.BitchRepublic.net
rhonda
Alexa,
Madcow is the LEAST watched cable political show in the US. Bill O’reilly and Sean Hannity and Glen Beck and most of the Fox News shows are the top cable shows.