Lizzo Changed Her Song “Grrrls” After She Got Shit Over The Ableist Lyrics
Lizzo’s got a new album coming out in July. You may have heard the first single, “About Damn Time”, cuz it’s all over the TikToks. Her follow-up single is called “Grrrls”, and, over the weekend, its lyrics sparked some controversy. At the beginning of the song, Lizzo sings, “Do you see this shit? I’ma spaz.” She meant that she’s about to freak out, but, as many people on social media pointed out, “spaz” is actually an ableist slur. It comes from the word “spastic”, a term used to describe spastic paralysis, typical of cerebral palsy. Following the backlash, Lizzo apologized and changes the lyrics to “Hold me back.” She says the slur was unintentional; she was unaware it was offensive. Ah, the ignoramus defense. See: Michael K’s nickname for Paz de la Huerta. He didn’t know, OK?!
In Lizzo’s apology, she wrote that she’d never want to promote derogatory language, and there was already a new and improved version of “Grrrls”:
YouTube still has a few videos with the old version of the song. But here’s Lizzo’s updated, non-slur version that she just released (it uses the Beastie Boys’ “Girls” as a sample):
Writer/disability advocate Hannah Diviney originally called out Lizzo on Twitter for her lyrics:
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
Hannah and other Twitterers were pleased with Lizzo’s response:
I’m going to cry 😭 Thank you so much for hearing us Lizzo and for understanding that this was only ever meant gently and being open to learning, it honestly means the world ❤️. You’re a real true ally https://t.co/RbQCbAwpR6
— Hannah Diviney (@hannah_diviney) June 13, 2022
I want to give Lizzo her flowers. She set the bar for accountability. Within three days she acknowledged the concerns of the disabled community and is rereleasing the song. I want it to be remembered that a Black woman set the precedent for what accountability should be.
— clementine (@fairyfemmes) June 14, 2022
When I say love on @lizzo today I mean it. Go comment on & like her shit because a bunch of people outside of the #disability community are mocking her for changing a word in her song; insisting it’s PC/cancel culture. Go love on our socially responsible queen. #Grrrls #Lizzo
— Sami Schalk (@DrSamiSchalk) June 13, 2022
This whole thing reminds me of the Black Eyed Peas’ original version of “Let’s Get It Started”: “Let’s Get R*t**ded”. Unfortunately for die-hard BEP fans, the original song remains on their 2003 album, Elephunk. At least Lizzo tackled the “Grrrls” problem before her album got released. Lizzo: now officially superior to the Black Eyed Peas.
Pic: PA IMAGES/INSTARimages.com