Beyoncé’s rep confirmed to CNN this week that Beyoncé will permanently remove the disabled slur “spaz” from her album and replace it. It’s unclear which term Beyoncé’s team will use instead.
The statement comes just days after the singer released her seventh studio album, Renaissance, a lengthy dance record reminiscent of pre-pandemic clubbing.
Listeners hear the words on the eleventh track, “Heated.” The disability community condemned the use of slurs on Twitter, which prompted a backlash after its release.
One user said the use of the word felt like a “slap in the face” to the disabled community.
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yes @beyonce used the word “spaz” in their new song Heated. It feels like a slap in the face for me, the disability community, and the progress we’ve tried to make with her Lizzo. Until disability slurs disappear from music, I want to keep telling the whole industry to do better 💔
— Hannah Diviney (@hannah_diviney) July 30, 2022
But Beyonce isn’t the first singer to be specifically accused of having slurs in her lyrics.
In June, pop singer Lizzo faced similar backlash after incorporating lyrics after the release of her single “GRRRLS.” Many of her media advocates on prominent social media, including her Imani Barbarin, who has over 400,000 followers, have criticized its use.
Lizzo’s fans were particularly disappointed that Lizzo had advocated for the body positivity movement. She changed her lyrics to address the backlash.
Barbarin is a disabled person himself and a staunch disability advocate.
Many people have watered down the word “spas,” but as someone diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy, let me tell you. try to stop.
— Imani Barbarin, MAGC | Crutches & Spice ♿️ (@Imani_Barbarin) June 12, 2022
“Spaz” is a term derived from “spastic,” an insult often used to describe people with disabilities or reduced mobility.
Beyoncé’s announcement was challenged after a Twitter user pointed out that the term is part of African-American Native English, abbreviated AAVE, and is commonly used in the black community. .
However, many have shown that the standard application of the word in colloquial language is not mutually exclusive with its disabled roots.
We need to stop acting like AAVE terminology can’t…you guys know exactly what we used the word “spaz” for (“be stupid”, “be crazy”). By that definition, definitely yes.
— Maya (@KioshiWarrior) August 1, 2022
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “spaz” as relating to, characterized by, or affected by, or spasm-like.
The National Center on Disability and Journalism describes it as derogatory.
“It is acceptable to refer to someone as ‘spastic cerebral palsy,’ but it is derogatory to refer to them as ‘spastic’ or ‘spas.’ “It’s always best to ask for the person’s preferred term when describing a specific symptom,” the center wrote.
A representative for Beyoncé said that “words not intentionally used in a harmful way will be replaced.”
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