Beyoncé is removing the lyrics to one of the songs on her new album, “Renaissance,” amid backlash. The pop superstar drew criticism this weekend over the song “Heated,” co-written by Drake, which features the line: “Spazzin’ on that a**, spazz on that a**.” The word “spaz” is based on spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy that causes motor impairments in the legs or arms, and has been used as a slur toward people living with that disability.
Representatives for Beyoncé confirmed that a new version of “Heated” will be available with the offensive lyrics changed. A statement read: “The word, not used intentionally in a harmful way, will be replaced.” Beyoncé’s announcement follows Lizzo’s decision to edit the same word out of one of her new songs; Lizzo confirmed plans to change a lyric in “Grrrls,” off her latest album “Special,” following similar criticism.
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