Lizzo used slur against disabled people in her new song, “Grrrls,” – Later Changes Lyrics
Update 6/14/22:
Lizzo has posted on her social media platforms that she has heard her fans and has changed the ableist slur in her new song, Grrrls.
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) June 13, 2022
Rather than the lyrics saying, “Hold My bag, b!tch. hold my bag. Do you see this, $h!t? I’ma sp@zz,” she changed it to, “Hold my bag, b!tch. hold my bag. Do you see this, $h!t? Hold me back.” We highlight the original version and new version of the song in our Instagram post. Swipe to hear the difference.
Original 6/13/22
Lizzo Used Slur Against Disabled People in New Song “Grrrls” – Later Changes Lyrics
The story
Did y’all know that the word spaz (known as sp@z throughout the article) is an ableist slur against disabled people? I didn’t either until I saw Lizzo trending on Twitter. After using the term sp@z in her song, Grrls, fans, especially white disabled fans, were upset. Lizzo has yet to respond to the controversy but it is an interesting topic of conversation. Fans’ reactions have been mixed because the use of the word sp@z is very layered and complex. If you are able-bodied, disabled, white, Black or a person of color, the response is different in tone and expectation.
White disabled people are up in arms about Lizzo using the term sp@z. These are just a few found on Twitter but there are more on TikTok.
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.
— Hannah Diviney (@hannah_diviney) June 12, 2022
really disappointing that Lizzo has written an empowerment “anthem” for women but in the first verse she uses the word sp*z, empowering one group doesn’t mean you can use ableist language
— Hol (@vvitcherii) June 11, 2022
Oh @lizzo
A VERY influential figure, using the word sp@z in her new song.
An offensive and derogatory term. As someone who’s written about the use of disability language, especially slang/slur words which have been used in schools, this is a huge step back.
Please, remove it.
— Kate Stanforth (@KateStanforth) June 11, 2022
I’m disappointed in @lizzo for using the word “sp@z” in her new song “Grrrls”. There’s no excuse for using an ableist insult in a song in 2022. As someone who champions women, plus size people and others whom society treats poorly, Lizzo preaches inclusivity and should do better.
— Callum Stephen (He/Him) (@AutisticCallum_) June 11, 2022
Black disabled people, on the other hand, are quicker to educate than cancel. Many are upset but are calling her in versus calling her out.
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 😔💔
— Shelby 🖤 (@Shelbykinsxo) June 10, 2022
I’ve seen a few comments across the internet talking about “Cancelling Lizzo” and that’s not what we want – we want to educate her and have the word changed
— Shelby 🖤 (@Shelbykinsxo) June 12, 2022
I’m not saying anything new but white disabled people especially from both the US & UK need to take a step back on the Lizzo situation. And amplify Black disabled voices especially from the US. It wasn’t lost on me how quickly most of you jumped to attack instead of educating.
— 🌸Bibi🌸♿ (@bibicosplays) June 13, 2022
I haven’t asked my aalies to go & drag @Lizzo. The reason is complex
& has to do with Black American culture & American misogynoir. https://t.co/nVtoJiGvZ4
— Tinu (@Tinu) June 13, 2022
All I’m going to say about the sp*z Lizzo thing is this: is it a bad word? Yes. And a lot of white disabled people so many of which are not American in the first place really feel like they can be the judge jury and executioner for someone without giving them the room to learn.
— Keah Brown (@Keah_Maria) June 13, 2022
I think the situation with lizzo using spaz needs to be a conversation led by disabled, Black Americans (I want to make note that I am a Black disabled person). A lot of people dominating the conversation are White and disabled, as well as mostly from the UK.
— clementine (@fairyfemmes) June 11, 2022
Yet spazz, very important to note that in aave, is with two z’s and has a completely different meaning not based in the UK. With Lizzo being an American, it’s unlikely that she knew of a term primarily used in the UK.
— clementine (@fairyfemmes) June 11, 2022
A lot of people are taking this as me saying that nonblack disabled voices don’t matter and that I think it’s okay to use it against yt disabled people. Which is false. The main point I’m making is that a lot of people are using their platforms to be anti-black towards Lizzo.
— clementine (@fairyfemmes) June 13, 2022
As a Black disabled women myself, I think people are having trouble accepting the nuance of spazz being both an aave term AND a slur. Both things can exist. It’s not perfect but that’s the explanation, not a justification of using the word.
— Keyla Sebs (@KeylaSebs) June 13, 2022
Update 6/14/22
A mixed South African Australian woman named Carly Findlay, who has an Ichthyosis disability that makes her white presenting, had a unique experience with the controversy.
She not only called out Lizzo for her slur but also allies for not speaking up against ableist language on Twitter and Instagram.
Where are all the allies speaking out about Lizzo’s song that uses a disability slur? It’s not just up to disabled people to call this stuff out. Allies, talk to your friends who *still* use disability slurs about why they’re so harmful. Speak up. We can’t do all the work.
— Carly Findlay OAM (she/her) (@carlyfindlay) June 13, 2022
When the Internet told her that she, a presumed white person, should stay in their lane, Carly then had to defend/explain the intersectionality between her disability and her race. I too initially misrepresented Carly as white in my original article. Hence, my update.
I tweeted about Lizzo’s use of a disability slur (she’s amended this); and called on allies to talk to their friends about their use of disability slurs. I then got a heap of responses about how white people should stay in their lanes. I’m not white. https://t.co/w7WmVKkN45
— Carly Findlay OAM (she/her) (@carlyfindlay) June 14, 2022
While I recognise my white passing privilege & how I have benefited from white structures & systems, I am also tired of not being seen for the intersections I hold. I wrote in Say Hello that I’m scared to talk about racial issues as I’ll be told to sit down, & today I have.
— Carly Findlay OAM (she/her) (@carlyfindlay) June 14, 2022
While this Lizzo controversy has many layers, I think the main takeaways are the following:
- Everyone wants to be heard
- Everyone wants to be respected
- No one is above correction
- Your voice does matter
- Words can have multiple meanings, whether we realize it or not
- Two things can be true at once
- Admitting you’re wrong and making changes to make things right isn’t farfetched
- Support for one marginalized group doesn’t make it okay to attack another marginalized group, especially when intersectionality plays a role
Did y’all know the term sp@z was ableist or offensive? Will you become more mindful of ableist language or not so much since much of our slang is rooted in our culture? Leave a comment below.
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