Beyonce Removes Ableist Slur From New Album

The same slur that Lizzo used back in June.

Beyoncé is facing backlash after releasing her new critically-acclaimed album “Renaissance”. After listening to the track, it is understandable why fans were definitely “HEATED”.

Beyoncé released her new hit album last Friday (July 29), for those who may have been living under a rock. Since then, the musician received an overwhelming amount of reviews – most of which were positive. Despite it being released less than a week ago, the electronic dance record has already made it to Billboard’s “Top 100”. Beyoncé’s “ALIEN SUPERSTAR” has already claimed its spot as #1 on US Apple Music, replacing her own “BREAK MY SOUL”. 

What slur?

Contrary to the positive reviews, Queen B is getting quite the backlash after singing “Sp*zzing on that a–, sp*zz on that a–” on the track of “HEATED”. Sp*zzing is slang for a hyperactive person who is overdramatic and moody. This term is common in AAVE (African-American Vernacular English), so it makes sense why Bey used it in her song. 

What does it mean?

However, sp*zz is a slur that is derivative of the word “spastic”. Spastic is a medical term to describe muscle spasms. Medical professionals use it to identify the muscle spasms that people with cerebral palsy suffer with. Using this ableist slur is a subtle way to degrade those who do have cerebral palsy with the association of the person being uncool, over-excitable, and awkward. 

Many went on Twitter to express their frustration.

It’s a slur. Just because you don’t think it is doesn’t mean it isn’t.

It’s not attacking black women, it’s attacking people who deliberately use ableist words while not being disabled.

— AndreaMakesThings (@amurley1) July 31, 2022

So @Beyonce used the word ‘spaz’ in her new song Heated. Feels like a slap in the face to me, the disabled community & the progress we tried to make with Lizzo. Guess I’ll just keep telling the whole industry to ‘do better’ until ableist slurs disappear from music 💔

— Hannah Diviney (@hannah_diviney) July 30, 2022

Other fans on Twitter defended the musician. One user wrote “So y’all never learned of homonyms in school?! ‘Spazz’ has a whole other meaning in the Black community and is never meant with any negative connotations. Just because it’s a slur to y’all doesn’t mean Beyoncé was using it as a slur! Same way brits call cigarettes ‘f@gs’”.

Neither Beyoncé nor Lizzo should have changed it, Spaz is NOT a slur in Black America and we simply can not let folks across the pond dictate how we talk. https://t.co/d2SHlVn8h8

— Juju (@JuJuBreauxD) August 1, 2022

Though, other Twitter users acknowledged the differences between the public’s reaction to Beyonce, compared to Lizzo when she accidentally used the slur in her song “Grrrls” over a month ago. 

How about we STOP using ableist slurs period?

Oh, and, it is NOT lost on me how y’all dragged Lizzo’s name in the mud, calling for her head and to be canceled, but y’all didn’t do that to Bey.

It’s giving colorism and fatphobia. https://t.co/noNqgWF88j

— TEE FRANKLIN IS WRITING. JOIN MY PATREON (@MizTeeFranklin) August 1, 2022

Fortunately, Beyoncé’s team confirmed that she would remove the ableist slur from her album. Listeners were relieved to hear that their advocacy isn’t going unnoticed. With this, disability advocates are able to continue creating a more accepting society by educating, not only the public but also A-list celebrities like Beyoncé.