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Original poster

What are fishies? Channel 4 Big Fat Quiz of the Year

247 replies

Procrastinator2 · 26/12/2019 23:40

Just that. A question on the Big Fat Quiz of the Year posed by drag queens, what are fishies.

Programme presented by Jimmy Carr. Participants Noel Fielding, someone who does the BA security videos, @AsimC86, Roisin Conaty, Maya Jama, MTV presenter and former girlfriend of Stormzy, Richard Ayoade and Dara O'Briain.
It would not be acceptable for any other group of people to be named accordingly to the supposed smell of their genitals, but it's ok when it comes to women, channel 4.

OP posts:
Cismyfatarse1 · 26/12/2019 23:47

That is absolutely vile. Was it answered? How did they react?

Redshoeblueshoe · 26/12/2019 23:49

Why am I not surprised Angry

UnWilly · 27/12/2019 02:01

The answer, unless I misheard, was to do with who who passed the best, or the more you passed, the 'fishier' you were

GrimDamnFanjo · 27/12/2019 02:06

Yep I posted about this when this phrase appeared in an online bbc quiz. Vile.

justcly · 27/12/2019 03:36

Surprised that neither Jama or Conaty said anything. "FFS, we do NOT smell like fish" would have done just fine.

HirplesWithHaggis · 27/12/2019 03:45

I was watching this with DH (60), DS (29) and his GF (25). When the question was asked, I said, "Did they really just ask that incredibly offensive question on national tv? Shock" Silence from my co-watchers (because they didn't know) and when it was answered, DS agreed it was indeed offensive, and the other two agreed once they all understood.

I wonder how many households didn't click?

Trews2019 · 27/12/2019 03:47

The whole program was dire. Ayaode sold his soul years ago.

hazandduck · 27/12/2019 03:50

Ugh I raged over this too, the whole wafting at their genitals too to indicate the smell. How do people watching not get so offended? It maddens me because I usually love Big Fat Quiz, and enjoyed it up until that point and I think a year ago I may have laughed along but now I just see drag as it is - a way for men to get cheap laughs at the expense of women and be celebrated for it.

JustTurtlesAllTheWayDown · 27/12/2019 07:47

Oh my god. That's absolutely vile.

JellySlice · 27/12/2019 09:12

More rohypnol. Most het people don't realise the connotation. Fishy applied to people generally means dubious, suspicious. So now another misogynistic slur will slip into our language.

Namestranger · 27/12/2019 09:18

I've never understood this weird and horrible slur anyway. Boys used to use it CONSTANTLY at secondary school to torture girls and trash their reputations (after every party there was always a rumour "so-and-so has a fishy fanny"). It seems like a massive deflection from the fact that if anyone's unwashed genitals smell of fish it's MEN'S, not women's (outside of a specific bacterial infection). I've had a few boyfriends who smelt a bit fishy in the mornings and a quick Google shows am not alone. Makes me v.cross.

MonsteraCheeseplant · 27/12/2019 09:21

I watched it in horror and was totally disgusted by them. How the fuck was that considered to be acceptable?

The part of the quiz was about drag vocabulary. Two drag queens came on asking 'what does this mean, what does that mean" etc and pointed at their genitals when asking "what are fishies?" in drag queen terminology. The correct answer was that fishies are drag queens that pass as women. FUCK OFF.

MacaroonMama · 27/12/2019 09:29

Let's complain. This is vile.

www.channel4.com/4viewers/contact-us

Justhadathought · 27/12/2019 09:32

I was watching......I'm not sure that many/any of the panel really understood what the term 'fishy' implied - other than, may be, Noel Fielding. One of the drag queens was 'Bag a Chipz' who had to be one of the worst performers on the recent series of Drag Race. Just horrible!

The attempt to mainstream drag is going to have unintended consequences for those pushing it........and there is a clear determination to push it.

Justhadathought · 27/12/2019 09:35

I suspect that commissioning editors and others who make these sorts of decisions about what to feature have now got wind of the growing criticism of drag and this was part of an attempt to push it even further. An act of arrogance, and also of denial. Like the Guardian journalist who decreed women must not debate drag.

Justhadathought · 27/12/2019 09:37

The correct answer was that fishies are drag queens that pass as women. FUCK OFF|

Even though it is obvious that at some point someone is going to ask " Why fishy?"

Justhadathought · 27/12/2019 09:40

Just found this drag glossary: enterthequeendom.com/glossary

Here's the excuse for the term fishy:

"Fishy: A term used to describe a drag queen who looks extremely feminine or one who convincingly resembles a biological woman. The term refers to the supposed scent of a woman’s vagina, which is colloquially likened to the smell of fish. (As feminists, we don’t love this word, but drag doesn’t take itself seriously, so we shouldn’t either. Besides, fish is healthy and delicious.)"

PrincessButtockUp · 27/12/2019 09:47

Thanks for the link to channel 4's complaints process. I have complained. I doubt channel 4 will do anything except offer platitudes.

SpamChaudFroid · 27/12/2019 09:50

Exactly Namestranger. Fishy, cheesy and lest we forget, pissy pubes. Also lazy bum wiping.

HandsOffMyRights · 27/12/2019 09:51

This is vile and pathetic.

I will also complain, yet agree C4 will no doubt try to justify its stance by hiding behind drag.

Babdoc · 27/12/2019 09:52

I refuse to watch anything hosted by Jimmy Carr since I had to walk out of his live stage tour because he made rape jokes.
It doesn’t in the least surprise me that he would pose questions as misogynistic as this. Revolting man.

Justhadathought · 27/12/2019 09:55

I will also complain, yet agree C4 will no doubt try to justify its stance by hiding behind drag

Yes, they will.......but as drag is pushed into the mainstream they are going to have to confront the inevitable - when people finally wake up to the ill considered and insulting content of much of it.

It is like we're back in the 1970's - with shows such as 'Love Thy Neighbour' 'Jim Davidson' and 'The Black & White Minstrel show'.

Race and male homosexuality have become 'no-go' areas for much of the so-called progressive left, but women are still considered fair game. Gay male misogyny is ripe for exposure.

Justhadathought · 27/12/2019 09:58

I refuse to watch anything hosted by Jimmy Carr

Have to say i don't normally watch these sorts of comedy shows...i hate competitive humour...but Jimmy Carr has featured a number of times over the xmas period, and have to say he sails far too close to the wind and in doing so reveals a real nasty and unpleasant streak. It is all about his ego.,

RuffleCrow · 27/12/2019 10:05

Ffs can you imagine "What is nob cheese?" appearing in next year's quiz? And someone seriously explaining that in the world of Drag Kings "the better you 'pass' the Cheesier your Nob is"???!!!Envy

< Apologies to anyone who might be eating as they read>

Wouldn't happen because of, you know, respect for men as human beings...

MorbidMuch · 27/12/2019 10:08

Ergh, I saw this last night and had the same reaction. Thank you for the contact link above; I will send my complaint in this morning.

It is so offensive to equate women with fish. Hopefully they will get a lot of push back.

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