Radio stations are banning ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ after being dubbed ‘manipulative and wrong’

Right call?

The classic Christmas song ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ has been banned from an increasing number of US radio stations, after listeners complained that it was inappropriate in the age of #MeToo.

Critics say that the 1944 song sees a woman being pressured to stay at a man’s home, despite her own suggestions that she should leave.

But a growing number of US stations have opted to ban the song, after it was first taken off the air by Star102 FM in Cleveland, Ohio.

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The ban was at odds with their listeners, who strongly disagreed with the decision in a Facebook poll.

Should we play 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' during the holiday season?

Posted by Star 102 Cleveland on Thursday, November 29, 2018

Glenn Anderson, a host at the station, says that although the song was written in a different era, the lyrics feel “manipulative and wrong”.

“The world we live in is extra sensitive now, and people get easily offended, but in a world where #MeToo has finally given women the voice they deserve, the song has no place”, he wrote.

The line “Say what’s in this drink? (No cabs to be had out there)” has proved to be one of the most controversial, with critics claiming that it is a reference to date rape.

However, others say it should be understood in the context of the day – which means she wanted to “get down and stay over.”

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The ban’s increase comes days after calls for another festive classic to be banned.

Earlier today, Shane McGowan responded to critics who claimed that ‘Fairytale of New York’ should be banned, due to the use of ‘F****t’ in the song.

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