Beyoncé Confirms She Will Remove A Lyric From Her New Album, ‘Renaissance,’ Amid Criticism That It’s ‘Ableist’ & ‘Deeply Offensive’: ‘The Word Will Be Replaced’
Beyoncé Confirms She Will Remove A Lyric From Her New Album, ‘Renaissance,’ Amid Criticism That It’s ‘Ableist’ & ‘Deeply Offensive’: The Word Will Be Replaced
It looks like Beyonce has found herself in a bit of controversy!
Beyonce has promised to remove an ableist slur from a track on her new album Renaissance following backlash from fans, disability charities, and activists.
In her new song titled, “Heated,”–which she collaborated on with Drake– Beyonce sings:
“Sp**zin’ on that a**, s**z on that ass.”
Beyonce
According to reports, fans and activists criticized the use of the word “spaz” in the song “Heated.” Reportedly, the word has been used to refer in a derogatory way to people with disabilities, especially people with cerebral palsy. However, in African American Vernacular English– a dialect of English created and used in Black communities– the word means to “go crazy” or “fight.”
A rep for the “Breaky My Soul” singer had this to say:
“The word, not used intentionally in a harmful manner, will be replaced in the lyrics.”
Warren Kirwan– a media manager at the UK disability equality charity Scope– told sources that removing the word matters because the use of the word can reinforce negative attitudes toward people with disabilities. She said,
“It’s appalling that one of the world’s biggest stars has chosen to include this deeply offensive term.”
Beyonce
Many fans were surprised Beyonce still chose to use the word “spaz” in her song being that Lizzo just experienced similar controversy last month. As previously reported, Lizzo received criticism for using the word “spaz” in her new song “GRRRLS.” As a verb, the word means to lose physical or emotional control. However, as an adjective, it is short for spastic, which is,
“relating to or denoting a form of muscular weakness ( spastic paralysis ) typical of cerebral palsy, caused by damage to the brain or spinal cord and involving reflex resistance to passive movement of the limbs and difficulty in initiating and controlling muscular movement.”
Lizzo
The Grammy-Award-winning artist was called out via Twitter by a user who said,
“Hey @lizzo my disability Cerebral Palsy is literally classified as Spastic Diplegia (where spasticity refers to unending painful tightness in my legs) your new song makes me pretty angry + sad. ‘Spaz’ doesn’t mean freaked out or crazy. It’s an ableist slur. It’s 2022. Do better.”
Lizzo addressed the “harmful word” across her social media platforms, saying she has since changed the lyrics to the song. The move comes as a result of being an “influential artist” who listens and takes action. She said,
“It’s been brought to my attention that there is a harmful word in my new song “GRRRLS”. Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote derogatory language. As a fat black woman in America, I’ve had many hurtful words used against me so I overstand the power words can have (whether intentionally or in my case, unintentionally). I’m proud to say there’s a new version of GRRRLS with a lyric change. This is the result of me listening and taking action. As an influential artist I’m dedicated to being part of the change I’ve been waiting to see in the world. Xoxo, Lizzo.”
Prior to Beyonce’s statement, Warren Kirwan mentioned the backlash Lizzo received and expressed concern that Beyonce nor her team learned from the ‘Truth Hurts’ singer’s mistake just one month ago. She said,
“Just weeks ago, Lizzo received a huge backlash from fans who felt hurt and let down after she used the same abhorrent language…Thankfully she did the right thing and re-recorded the song. It’s hard to believe that could have gone unnoticed by Beyonce?’s team”
She continued,
“Words matter because they reinforce the negative attitudes disabled people face every day, and which impact on every aspect of disabled people’s lives..Beyonce? has long been a champion of inclusivity and equality, so we’d urge her to remove this offensive lyric.”
Lizzo
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