The singer was called out on social media for using the word “sp*z” in her song Grrrls. The song was recently released, sparking fan outrage that demanded the song be changed.
She also published a statement announcing the change in her track, apologizing for “unintentionally” hurting her differently-abled fans worldwide.
Lizzo addresses the situation in an Instagram post
The Boys singer shared an Instagram post writing that she never wanted to promote “derogatory” terms. She also said that she had been a victim of similar abuse. She said:
The artist continued by announcing a new version of the controversial track. The post added:
The original lyrics from the song said:
These lyrics have been changed, and it now says:
The new version has replaced the original song on Lizzo’s YouTube channel. The revised version has already been played over 396k times and has gained over 16k likes. A comment on the video read,
The singer was applauded for her quick actions. Here are a few fan reactions from Twitter:
What does the slur sp*z mean?
The Grammy winner has consistently shared messages of inclusivity and positivity, which is why netizens were shocked to see her use a derogatory word in her song. Many blamed her label, management, and publishers.
A tweet by the user Hannah Diviney went viral on Twitter. Diviney had addressed the singer about her lyrics, explaining how it was a slur for “Spastic Diplegia.” The tweet read:
Spastic is a medical term that describes spasms related to high muscle tones, usually resulting in excruciating limb pain. High muscle tone is a condition experienced by people with disabilities who live with excessive stiffness.
The condition is common in people who have cerebral palsy. According to The Mighty, over 77% of people with cerebral palsy have spastic muscles. This causes people to make one’s muscles contract. It can also lead to decreased mobility and muscle twitching.
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