Lizzo, an award-winning singer-songwriter, has recently been trending on social media following backlash from fans for an offensive word in her new song, “Grrrls.”
Some disability advocates criticized Grrrls because of the term used in the song. “Hold my bag, bitch, hold my bag / Do you see this shit? I’m a sp@z.”
“Spaz” is a slang term for going insane or freaking out. It comes from the word spastic, which refers to those who have spasms, which are most commonly connected with cerebral palsy.
Fans and disability groups expressed dissatisfaction with Lizzo and the song’s lyrics, saying that it was ableist.
I’m disappointed in @lizzo for using the word “sp@z” in her new song “Grrrls”. There’s no excuse for using an ableist insult in a song in 2022. As someone who champions women, plus size people and others whom society treats poorly, Lizzo preaches inclusivity and should do better.
— Callum Stephen (He/Him) (@AutisticCallum_) June 11, 2022
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.
— Hannah Diviney (@hannah_diviney) June 12, 2022
Oh @lizzo
A VERY influential figure, using the word sp@z in her new song.
An offensive and derogatory term. As someone who’s written about the use of disability language, especially slang/slur words which have been used in schools, this is a huge step back.
Please, remove it.
— Kate Stanforth (@KateStanforth) June 11, 2022
https://twitter.com/EllaEllaaW/status/1535724214354944001?s=20&t=3YhVTpvsnWUr6EaQFiQYHA
Hey @lizzo please remove the word "spaz" from your new song because it's a slur and really offensive to the disabled community
From a disappointed fan 😔💔
— Shelby 🖤 (@Shelbykinsxo) June 10, 2022
Due to the backlash from fans, Lizzo clarified in a tweet that it was never her intention to promote the derogatory language. In the same tweet, she also announced that she will be releasing an updated version of the song. She is delighted to say, as an influential musician, that the song will be slightly altered, and the ableist phrase will be changed.
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) June 13, 2022
The original lyric of the song was changed from “Do you see this shit? I’m a spaz” to “Do you see this shit? Hold me back.”
Following the release of her lead single, “About Damn Time,” in April, “Grrrls” is the second track of her upcoming fourth album, “Special.” The album will be released to the public on July 15, and it will be her first album since her box office hit “Cuz I Love You” in 2019.
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