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Lizzo ‘Grrrls’: Singer changes ableist slur after facing backlash, fans say ‘y’ll made that up’

Many on Twitter had dragged the singer on the word ‘sp*z’ after which she decided to release a new version of her controversial single

Lizzo, on Monday, June 13, took to her socials to announce that she changed the lyrics of her new single ‘Grrrls’ after she was accused of using an ableist slur in the song. The ‘Truth Hurts’ hitmaker on Twitter and Instagram, said that as an influential artist she was dedicated to being part of the change she has been waiting to see in the world.
 
The Grammy-winning crooner was pulled up on the Internet but her fans came to her rescue asking the haters to stop picking on “dark-skinned, obese, Black woman” for their entertainment. The song ‘Grrrls’ belongs to Lizzo’s upcoming sophomore album ‘Special’. In the track, the 34-year-old crooner sings, “Hold my bag/ Do you see this s**t?/ I'm a sp*z/ I'm about to knock somebody out/ Yo, where my best friend?/ She the only one I know to talk me off the deep end." Many on Twitter had dragged the singer on the word ‘sp*z’ after which she decided to release a new version of her controversial single.
 
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Lizzo releases new version of ‘Grrrls’

Taking to her socials, Lizzo stated, “It's been brought to my attention that there is a harmful word in my new song 'GRRRLS,' adding, “Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote derogatory language.” She continued, “As a fat Black woman in America, I've had many hurtful words used against me so I overstand the power words can have (whether intentionally or in my case, unintentionally,) I'm proud to say there's a new version of GRRRLS with a lyric change.”
 
Lizzo further explained, “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.” While the word ‘sp*z’ is used as slang here meaning “freak out” or “go crazy”, the term emerges from the word ‘spastic’, which is used medically to describe the spasms one might experience from a condition like cerebral palsy.

‘Y’all doing too much on Lizzo’

“White brits canceling Lizzo over a word that no one in the US uses as a slur and that most people didn’t even know was a slur like y’all don’t call cigarettes f*gs everyday help”, said one user as another posted, “I’m glad that Lizzo apologized with full accountability, and better yet releasing the song w/o the slur. With that said, I hope the same people who had a lot of anti-black things to say under the guise of accountability about Lizzo have the same energy for their yt faves.” One person shared, “Lizzo is literally too kind to y’all.”
 
The next one tweeted, “Lizzo changed her song lyrics. She listened to feedback, realized her error, and made amends and a correction. That's not going to matter to a lot of ppl, tho. Misogynoir won't stop the pile on because for some, a Black woman is the only one they feel superior to.” One added, “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.” One individual asserted, “Mind y’all Kendrick just made a song saying the f slur 20 million times but y’all coming for Lizzo over a word that’s not even a slur. YALL MADE THAT UP.” Another stated, “Glad that she took the time out to listen to them and wanted to get their genuine response and she didn’t wanna let her fans and the GP down. Although I think it was blown out of proportion just a bit, because most people use that word as in “going off” or “losing control.” One concluded, “Spazz is not a slur. Y’all doing too much on Lizzo. Go outside your house and talk to people, no one would agree spaz is a slur let alone, even offensive in any way. Stop picking on a dark-skinned, obese, black woman for your sick entertainment.”