Beyoncé is going to update the Renaissance song “Heated” after facing criticism over lyrics considered ableist. The line in question is “spazzin’ on that ass, spaz on that ass”—a word often used as a slur against those with spastic cerebral palsy. “The word, not used intentionally in a harmful way, will be replaced,” Beyoncé’s representative clarified in a statement. A timeline for when the song will be updated was not given.
Following the song’s release, Beyoncé faced criticism from disability advocates like Hannah Diviney. “I’m tired and frustrated that we’re having this conversation again so soon after we got such a meaningful and progressive response from Lizzo,” Diviney told BBC News.
Lizzo recently faced criticism for using the same term on her new song “Grrrls.” She updated the song to change the lyrics and issued a statement. “Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote derogatory language,” she wrote. “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).”
Read “5 Takeaways From Beyoncé’s New Album, RENAISSANCE.”
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