*Update* Lizzo Used Slur Against Disabled People in New Song “Grrrls” – Later Changes Lyrics

Lizzo dancers
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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.

 

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

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.

 

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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