Lizzo listened: Pop star to change song after outcry over ableist slur

Writer Laura Pettenuzzo has spastic diplegia. She explains why the original version of Lizzo’s latest song was "unacceptable" 

I’m a huge fan of pop music. It’s one of the few places I can go when I need an escape, a sense of safety and relief. So, you can imagine my delight when pop-sensation, Lizzo, announced a new project described by various media outlets as “empowering”. The song, called ‘Grrls’ is all about female friendship, and it would be empowering, if not for one of the opening lines. 

Lizzo sings, “Do you see this s**t? I’mma spaz.”

‘Spaz’ is short for spastic, and has often been used in a derogatory way to refer to people who have cerebral palsy. People like me. I have spastic diplegia, which means that my legs shake – or spasm – without my control. These spasms are a fatiguing and painful part of my everyday life. Me and the 17 million other people who live with cerebral palsy have to navigate ableism in various forms, in every aspect of our lives.

This slur in ‘Grrls’ is at odds with Lizzo’s image. Her music and her message tends to be about embracing what makes us unique. For instance, in an interview with People magazine, she said of her weight, “I like being fat and I’m beautiful and I’m healthy.” Furthermore, she recently corrected the paparazzi for misgendering non-binary pop star, Demi Lovato, and was praised for her inclusivity. 

But inclusion isn’t real if it leaves disabled people on the margins – again. Let me say, unequivocally, whether you’re a musician like Lizzo, a fan like me or anything in between, using ableist slurs is never acceptable.

Lizzo is not the only person responsible for the content of her songs. Her producers, her co-writers, her management, and a whole host of people must have heard that song. Not one of them stopped to consider that it might not be appropriate to throw around a slur, the use of which would serve to normalise and reinforce dangerous and ableist ideas.

By using the slur, Lizzo and ‘Grrls’ has not only attacked me in the safe space of pop music, she has also said to the millions of people who listen to her music and see her as a role model, that it is okay to use language that demeans disabled people. And this is something our community won't let slide.

Over the weekend, many disabled people and allies publicly responded to Lizzo's lyrics.

"Hey @lizzo," tweeted disability activist Hannah Diviney. "My disability Cerebral Palsy is literally classified as Spastic Diplegia (where spasticity refers to unending painful tightness in my legs) your new song makes me pretty angry + sad. ‘Spaz’ doesn’t mean freaked out or crazy. It’s an ableist slur. It’s 2022. Do better."

Autistic advocate Callum Stephen tweeted: "I’m disappointed in @lizzo for using the word 'sp@z' in her new song 'Grrrls'. There’s no excuse for using an ableist insult in a song in 2022. As someone who champions women, plus size people and others whom society treats poorly, Lizzo preaches inclusivity and should do better."

With fans calling for Lizzo to change the lyrics or remove the song completely, she is faced with a telling choice. Will she act in accordance with her purported values, acknowledge her (possibly inadvertent) mistake, and show the disability community the respect we deserve?

I hope so, and I also hope she will use her platform to invite her fans to consider the language they use in all their interactions because, frankly, I’m tired. I’m tired of being stared at in my wheelchair and mocked for the way that I walk, and I’m tired of living in a world where these behaviours are accepted. It’s 2022. It’s time for Lizzo – and every able-bodied person – to do better.   

Editor's update:

Just hours after Laura published this article, Lizzo announced she would be changing the lyrics of her song. In an instagram post the pop star said: "It's been brought to my attention that there is a harmful word in my new song "GRRRLS". Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote derogatory language. As a fat black woman in America, I've had many hateful words used against me so I understand the power words can have (whether intentionally or in my case unintentionally). I'm proud to say there's a new version of GRRRLS with a lyric change."