Beyoncé is altering one of the lyrics on her newest album, “Renaissance,” after disability activists called out the song’s use of a slur. The use of the word “spaz” in her song “Heated” garnered criticism after the album’s release on Friday.
“The word, not used intentionally in a harmful way, will be replaced,” said a statement from the artist.
Many disability activists came to condemn the use of the slur on Beyoncé's album, including Hannah Diviney, who wrote an article about the “ableist” lyric in The Guardian.
“It’s not very often that I don’t know what to say, rendered speechless by ignorance, sadness and a simmering anger born of bone-deep exhaustion,” Diviney said in the article.
Sense Charity, a disability rights organization based in the United Kingdom, took to Twitter to reprehend the lyric, saying “Disappointing that another artist is using an offensive term in their song so soon after it was pointed out how hurtful the word is.”
“We need more education to improve awareness of disability,” the charity went on to say.
This comes about a month after a similar controversy for Lizzo, who removed the slur from her song “Grrrls” after disability activists called out its use.
“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,” said Lizzo in a statement. “As a fat Black woman in America, I’ve had many hurtful words used against me so I overstand the power words can have.”
“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,” she went on to say.
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