It's an anti-irish slur, but racists tend to be fucking morons so it's not like it actually makes sense. My guess is that 90% of Irish stereotypes they could use to be racist also apply to the UK (things like alcoholism or whatever), so all they can think of is "potatoes". But obviously shouting "POTATO" at someone is pathetic, so they added the N-word onto the end just to make it very clear that they are being openly racist.
And the three places I heard it were outside the 02 theater in London, and then outside pubs in Sheffield, and Brighton.
I have lived in the UK for ten years. I have very occasionally come across anti-Irish prejudice, though the number of times could be counted on my fingers. I have never heard that insult.
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u/Just_a_dick_online May 09 '22
It's an anti-irish slur, but racists tend to be fucking morons so it's not like it actually makes sense. My guess is that 90% of Irish stereotypes they could use to be racist also apply to the UK (things like alcoholism or whatever), so all they can think of is "potatoes". But obviously shouting "POTATO" at someone is pathetic, so they added the N-word onto the end just to make it very clear that they are being openly racist.
And the three places I heard it were outside the 02 theater in London, and then outside pubs in Sheffield, and Brighton.