Beyoncé confirms she’ll be removing a lyric from her new album, ‘Renaissance,’ following criticism that she’s ‘capable’ and ‘deeply offensive’

• Beyoncé said she would be changing a lyric in her song “Heated” from her new album, “Renaissance.”

• Her use of a word – which was changed to a Lizzo song in June – caused a backlash.

• A rep for Beyoncé told Insider the word was “not intentionally used in a harmful way.”

Beyoncé has confirmed she will be removing a lyric from a track on her new album, ‘Renaissance’, after charities and disability activists called it ‘capable’ and ‘offensive’.

Fans and activists criticized the use of the word “spaz” in the song “Heated”. The word has been used to pejoratively refer to people with disabilities, especially people with cerebral palsy. In African American Vernacular English, an English dialect created and used in black communities, the word means “to go crazy” or “to fight”.

In a statement to Insider, a rep for the Grammy-winning singer said the lyrics would be changed.

“The word, not intentionally used in a harmful manner, will be replaced,” the statement read.

In June, Lizzo apologized and re-released the song “Grrrls” with new lyrics after receiving backlash for including the same word in the song.

Some people have wondered if Beyoncé saw the backlash from Lizzo two months earlier.

Hannah Diviney, a disability advocate, wrote in an opinion piece in The Guardian that Beyoncé’s status as a culturally significant singer “does not excuse her use of ableist language”.

“I’m so tired. People with disabilities deserve better. I don’t want to have this conversation anymore,” she wrote.

Warren Kirwan, media manager at UK disability equality charity Scope, told Insider the removal of the word was important because use of the word can reinforce negative attitudes towards people with disabilities.

A survey of 4,015 adults with disabilities in England and Wales conducted in May and June by Scope and Opinium Research found that around nine in 10 respondents who said they had experienced negative attitudes and behaviors said it had had a personal impact on them.

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“It’s appalling that one of the biggest stars in the world has chosen to include this deeply offensive term,” Kirwan said.

“Just a few weeks ago, Lizzo received a huge backlash from fans who felt hurt and disappointed after using the same hateful language. Luckily, she did the right thing and re-recorded the song. It’s hard to believe Beyoncé’s team could have gone unnoticed.”

Kirwan added: “Words matter because they reinforce the negative attitudes that people with disabilities face on a daily basis and which impact all aspects of the lives of people with disabilities.”

Another UK disability charity, Sense, tweeted that it was “disappointing” to see another artist use the word after the incident with Lizzo.

“Hoping Beyonce follows Lizzo’s lead and changes her way,” the organization said. “We need more education to improve disability awareness.”

Read the original Insider article