Addressing the controversy regarding the use of 'a harmful word' on her new song, the 'Truth Hurts' hitmaker announces that a new version of the track has been released as it's never her intention to 'promote derogatory language.'
- Jun 14, 2022
AceShowbiz - Lizzo is filled with remorse after she was caught in a controversy over the offensive lyric of her song "GRRRLS". Having caught heat for the use of "ableist slur," the Grammy Award-winning artist has agreed to change the lyric of her new single.
The raptress took to her social media pages on Monday, June 13 to address the controversy. "It's been brought to my attention that there is a harmful word in my new song 'GRRRLS'," she wrote on her post after receiving the backlash. "Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote derogatory language."
Claiming that she was unaware that a particular word on the song would hurt disabled community, she added, "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," the 34-year-old then announced. "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."
In the original version of the song which was released on Friday, June 10, Lizzo sings in the opening verse, "Hold my bag, b***h/ Hold my bag/ Do you see this s**t?/ I'm a spaz/ I'm about to knock somebody out/ Yo, where my best friend?/ She the only one I know to talk me off the deep end."
Many soon took issue with use of the word "spaz", viewing it as a derogatory term. As a slang term, "spaz" has often been used to describe losing "physical or emotional control," but has fallen increasingly out of fashion because of the word's origin from "spastic," which is "a form of muscular weakness (spastic paralysis) typical of cerebral palsy," according to Lexico, an online dictionary.
"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," one disappointed listener tweeted.
Another critic wrote, "It doesn't matter if lizzo knew the ableist connotations of the word sp*z, it is still problematic. so many people will sing this song and integrate the word into their day to day language." A third added, "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."
