The word “spaz”-which both artists used to mean lose control or release inhibitions-comes from the term “spastic diplegia,” a form of cerebral palsy that often mostly affects motor control in the legs. That same morning, Beyoncé’s team responded, telling Variety that “The word, not used intentionally in a harmful way, will be replaced.” What is the history of this term? Disabled people’s experiences are not fodder for song lyrics.

Not long after ableist language from Lizzo, Beyoncé’s new album features an ableist slur not once, but twice. The UK disability equality charity Scope shared the article on Twitter, writing, “Here we are again. From there, the op-ed-now titled “When Beyoncé dropped the same ableist slur as Lizzo on her new album, my heart sank”-got picked up by The Guardian. As an influential artist I’m dedicated to being part of the change I’ve been waiting to see in the world.”ĭiviney, who lives in Australia, then wrote an op-ed for Hireup, an Australian disability support provider. This is the result of me listening and taking action. “I’m proud to say there’s a new version of GRRRLS with a lyric change. “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),” she continued. “Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote derogatory language.” “It’s been brought to my attention that there is a harmful word in my new song ‘GRRRLS,’” Lizzo wrote in a statement she shared on social media. Within days, Lizzo changed the line to “Do you see this sh-t? Hold me back.” Do better.”ĭiviney was referring to a lyric in the first verse of the song, originally “Do you see this sh-t? I’ma spazz”-and her tweet was shared more than a thousand times. “‘Spaz’ doesn’t mean freaked out or crazy.

“Hey 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,” disability advocate Hannah Diviney tweeted the next day. But when “GRLLLS” came out on June 10, it met with criticism. The second single off of Lizzo’s latest album is no “Truth Hurts” or “Good As Hell,” but it is a Lizzo song: an empowerment anthem with a chorus manufactured to stick. Read more: 6 Revelations From Beyoncé’s New Album Renaissance What happened with Lizzo’s song “GRLLLS?” The rare occurrence of a post-hoc lyric change has shed new light on the negative connotations of the term “spaz.” Here’s what to know about why these artists made these changes.

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