Facebook apologises over Black Country faggots and peas censorship row
Facebook has apologised after a Black Country group's page was threatened with closure after members discussed the classic local delicacy faggots and peas.
Members of the Pensnett, Brierley Hill and Black Country Now and Then (History Group) posted the word "faggots" with reference to the region's traditional meal.
However bots from Facebook said use of the "derogatory" word had violated its community standards – with the social media company later admitting it had made a mistake.
Marilyn McDonald, a member of the group, said: "We discuss local news, we discuss memories, pictures, and our food too – and local Black Country dishes.
"We came onto the subject of faggots and peas and Facebook have gone ballistic and have got rid of one of the admins of the group. They say faggots is a derogatory word but it's our dialect, for goodness sake.
"Something needs to be done because we don't use it in a derogatory way. I can't say how anybody could be offended by the word when referring to the dish. I just find it ridiculous.
"I find it disgusting that they can abuse our heritage like this."
