Beyoncé is facing backlash over language included in one of her latest songs.
Critics are going after the singer over her use of ableist language in her new song “Heated.”
Hannah Diviney penned an op-ed for The Guardian titled, “When Beyoncé dropped the same ableist slur as Lizzo on her new album, my heart sank.”
She explained, “I’m so tired. Disabled people deserve better. I don’t want to have this conversation again.”
A representative for Beyoncé issued a statement to Insider responding to the criticism.
“The word, not used intentionally in a harmful way, will be replaced,” the representative said.
Media manager Warren Kirwan at the UK disability equality charity Scope explained to the outlet that it is “appalling that one of the world’s biggest stars has chosen to include this deeply offensive term.”
He continued, “Just weeks ago, Lizzo received a huge backlash from fans who felt hurt and let down after she used the same abhorrent language. Thankfully she did the right thing and rerecorded the song. It’s hard to believe that could have gone unnoticed by Beyoncé’s team.”
Kirwan argued that “words matter because they reinforce the negative attitudes disabled people face every day and which impact on every aspect of disabled people’s lives. Beyoncé has long been a champion of inclusivity and equality, so we’d urge her to remove this offensive lyric.”
Lizzo previously issued an apology for lyrics included in her song “Special.”
In the song, she sings about going “off the deep end.”
The song continues, “I’mma spaz; I’m about to knock somebody out.”
In a statement posted to Twitter, Lizzo said, “Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote derogatory language. As a fat black woman in America, I’ve had so many hurtful words used against me so I overstand the power words can have (whether intentionally or in my case, unintentionally).”
— LIZZO (@lizzo) June 13, 2022
She continued, “I’m proud to say there’s a new version of GRRRLS with a lyric change.”
According to her, “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.”
