Lizzo has removed an offensive term for people with disabilities from his latest song after days of public criticism, saying he “never wants[ed] to promote contemptuous language ”.
GRRRLS, the latest track from Special Musician’s upcoming album, was released on Friday. In the opening verse, the pop star, who has become known for his lyrics advocating acceptance and self-love, used a derogatory term for cerebral palsy, also known as spastic diplegia.
The song was criticized almost immediately by fans and advocates of disability, with tweets and TikToks telling the story and the offensive nature of the term that was shared and liked hundreds of thousands of times.
Hi @lizzo, my disability Cerebral palsy is literally classified as spastic diplegia (where spasticity refers to an endless painful oppression in my legs) your new song makes me quite angry + sad. ‘Spaz’ doesn’t mean scared or crazy. It is an habilitative insult. We are in 2022. Do it better.
– Hannah Diviney (@hannah_diviney) June 12, 2022
I’m disappointed with @lizzo for using the word “sp @ z” in his new song “Grrrls”. There is no excuse for using an habilitative insult in a song in 2022. As a advocate for women, the elderly, and others whom society mistreats, Lizzo preaches inclusion and should do better.
– Callum Stephen (He / Him) (@AutisticCallum_) June 11, 2022
Hi @lizzo, please remove the word “espac” from your new song because it is insulting and really offensive to the disabled community
From a disappointed fan
– Shelby 🖤 (@Shelbykinsxo) June 10, 2022
Lizzo issued a written public apology Monday.
“It simply came to my notice then that there was a detrimental word in my new song GRRRLS. Let me be clear: I never want to promote derogatory language, “she wrote.” As a fat black woman in America, I’ve had a lot of painful words used against me, so I understand the power that words can have. , or in my case, unintentionally). “
She said she was proud to release a new version of the song with a changed lyrics.
“This is the result of listening and acting,” he wrote. “As an influential artist, I dedicate myself to being part of the change I hope to see in the world.”
Because the song was yet to be released as a physical purchase, the previous version of GRRRLS was replaced by streaming services and digital stores with the new lyrics “hold me back”.
The special will be released in July.