Lizzo, 34, has been called out for using an ableist slur in her newest song, and the singer has responded.
In today's day and age, celebrities are getting called out left and right. About Damn Time singer Lizzo is the most recent one to receive criticism for language used in her newest song GRRRLS, which has some fans crying "ableism!" Rather than letting the controversy blow over, Lizzo has taken to Twitter to respond to these accusations.
Some fans, particularly ones with disabilities, took to social media to call out the use of an ableist slur in the lyrics, where Lizzo sings a line with a slang phrase for "freak out" that has its origins in the word "spastic," that has been used as a slur against those with disabilities.
As one fan tweeted, "I just can’t believe that not even 10 seconds into Lizzo’s new song there’s a whole extremely harmful ableist slur said *with her whole chest* that song will have been through 100s of people before being released and not ONE has picked this up and removed it??"
"It's been brought to my attention that there is a harmful word in my new song 'GRRRLS,'" she shared in a statement on Twitter. "Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote derogatory language."
Lizzo went on to say she was familiar with the pain she had caused.
"So I overstand [sic] the power words can have (whether intentionally or in my case, unintentionally,)" she continued. "I'm proud to say there's a new version of GRRRLS with a lyric change. 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."
Some felt that her apology and new lyric change was the perfect response. "Lizzo used an ableist slur in her new song and was immediately called out. She acknowledged the harm, apologized, and showed she would do better by changing the lyric. Within days. She didn’t center herself or double down. Someone find me the staples button," tweeted one fan.
Other fans felt it was unnecessary in the first place, with one fan tweeting, "Lizzo let WHITE people bully her out of using AAVE in her song. Black people have been using "spazz" for decades and it has nothing to do with making fun of disabled people."
What do you think? Was Lizzo right to change the lyric, or were fans overreacting? Let us know in the comments!
