Beyoncé To Change Renaissance Lyric Containing Ableist Slur

[LeavinExhaleByYearEnd]

Per The Guardian:

"Beyoncé has confirmed that she will remove an offensive term for disabled people from the lyrics of hew new album, Renaissance, after it was called “ableist” and “offensive” by disability charities and activists.

In the song Heated, co-written with Canadian rapper Drake, Beyoncé used a derogatory term for spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy. A representative for the musician told Insider that the lyric will be changed. “The word, not used intentionally in a harmful way, will be replaced,” the statement said.

In June, the US musician Lizzo was also called out for using the same term in the song Grrrls, from her new album Special. After a swift backlash, Lizzo apologised and replaced the lyric, saying that she had never wanted to “promote derogatory language” and adding: “As a fat Black woman in America, I have had many hurtful words used against me so I understand the power words can have (whether intentionally, or in my case, unintentionally.)”

In the UK, the term in question is widely considered to be offensive. In 2003, it placed second in a BBC survey of the most offensive terms in the UK relating to anyone with a disability. In the US, however, it still appears in more common use.

Australian writer and disability advocate Hannah Diviney was among the first to call Lizzo out, with her tweet going viral. Writing in the Guardian on Monday, Diviney lamented witnessing the same situation play out again so soon. “I thought we’d changed the music industry and started a global conversation about why ableist language – intentional or not – has no place in music,” wrote Diviney. “But I guess I was wrong.”

Beyoncé’s commitment to musical and visual storytelling did not “excuse her use of ableist language – language that gets used and ignored all too often”, wrote Diviney. “Language you can be sure I will never ignore, no matter who it comes from or what the circumstances are.”

The UK disability charity Sense initially tweeted of Beyoncé’s Heated that it was “disappointing that another artist is using an offensive term in their song so soon after it was pointed out how hurtful the word is”, and called for “more education to improve awareness of disability”.

They later praised her for agreeing to change the lyric. “Beyoncé has a history of championing inclusivity, and we’re happy that she’s listened to feedback and agreed to re-record the lyric that many disabled people find offensive. We recognise that the word was not used intentionally to cause harm but words have power and can reinforce negative attitudes marginalised groups face.

“We want to thank Beyoncé for listening and look forward to getting on with enjoying the record.”"

 

 

Beyoncé to change Renaissance lyric containing ableist slur | Beyoncé | The Guardian

WWW.THEGUARDIAN.COM

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A spokesperson for the musician confirmed that she will remove the offensive term for disabled people from her new song, Heated

 

[Lisa88007]

[Jordan Miller]

Not sure how to feel about this. I like that she's open to feedback and takes action though. 

[princessmimi]

Is it bad that I want to know what exact slur she used in the song?

[ElToxico]

People in the internet age are EXHAUSTING

[ExXL]

Nobody even knew it's a slur but sensitive people on the internet will already make something up.....

[Stefani]

Damn this era has been nothing but controversy after controversy for her.  The Black Adele, indeed.

Tbh she should've ignored the woke crowd. Soon they'll want to ban the word "crazy" too.  They need to be stopped.

[CHAOTIC STYLE.]

47 minutes ago, princessmimi said:

Is it bad that I want to know what exact slur she used in the song?

It’s worse to be uncultured, so no. The slur used in the song is ‘sp🌸z’. 

[MIKE_INT]

soon we will have only instrumentals until even sounds starts to be offensive for some

[bbbsss]

can all these “offended” people be deported from planet earth? 

 

[cocodeluxe]

 why don‘t they call out all those homophobic and  misogynist rappers out there first? Thats the fight I want to see  

[Mr. Cavill]

 

Referring to this part of Partition:

@Midnight

[LeavinExhaleByYearEnd]

1 minute ago, Mr. Cavill said:

 

Referring to this part of Partition:

@Midnight

Whats wrong with that?

[RBFLOVESBRITNEY]

4 minutes ago, DougfromBrazilIsBack said:

Whats wrong with that?

Monica Lewinsky’d is a reference to the blue Gap dress of Monica’s President Bill Clinton came on during their affair. She kept the dress and didnt dry clean it so the presidential stain was still there and used as evidence in the preceding. 

[LeavinExhaleByYearEnd]

Just now, RBFLOVESBRITNEY said:

Monica Lewinsky’d is a reference to the blue Gap dress of Monica’s President Bill Clinton came on during their affair. She kept the dress and didnt dry clean it so the presidential stain was still there and used as evidence in the preceding. 

So?

[hi_kevin]

3 hours ago, cocodeluxe said:

 why don‘t they call out all those homophobic and  misogynist rappers out there first? Thats the fight I want to see  

EXACTLY

[hi_kevin]

This is so stupid.

Next, the word “stupid” will be banned.

After that, “crazy” will be taken off the radio lol.

I’m tired 

[Jsken]

weird how this happened right after it happened with Lizzo, Beyonce's people were not paying attention?

[RBFLOVESBRITNEY]

2 minutes ago, DougfromBrazilIsBack said:

So?

Monica doesn’t like the fact her transgressions are in a Beyonce song. 

Personally and honestly I think people are too fücking sensitive and take themselves too seriously and cry foul over everything.

I think that art is art and sometimes people find it offensive because it makes them think a bit harder about themselves. Its going to get to a point where art/comedy and the like arent going to be enjoyable nor funny because people are afraid of offending people. If people arent using words to actively harm someone or cause malice people should grow up and learn to laugh at themselves.  

[LeavinExhaleByYearEnd]

Just now, RBFLOVESBRITNEY said:

Monica doesn’t like the fact her transgressions are in a Beyonce song. 

Personally and honestly I think people are too fücking sensitive and take themselves too seriously and cry foul over everything.

I think that art is art and sometimes people find it offensive because it makes them think a bit harder about themselves. Its going to get to a point where art/comedy and the like arent going to be enjoyable nor funny because people are afraid of offending people. If people arent using words to actively harm someone or cause malice people should grow up and learn to laugh at themselves.  

Exactly and that Monica line on the song is basically a way of saying, a metaphor or a throwback. No disrespect I see