Black Women Showed Up And Out For Lizzo After She Was Dragged Online Over ‘Ableist’ Slur In New Single ‘GRRRLS’

Black women showed up and out for Lizzo after being accused of using the ableist slur “spaz” in her new single “GRRRLS” over the weekend. 

In a tweet she shared on Monday, Lizzo apologized for the faux pas after mainly white folks dragged her on the social media platform. The “Truth Hurts” singer also removed the problematic word from her track.

“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.”

She continued, “As a fat Black woman in America, I’ve had many hurtful words used against me, so I overstand 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. 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.”

One white woman, in particular, was extra spicy in her response to Lizzo’s lyrics. She even tagged the singer.

“Hey, @lizzo, 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.”

In light of Lizzo being dragged online and her subsequent apology, Black women stood up for the 34-year-old singer on Twitter. Many sisters opined that white critics were anti-Black, and instead of using the incident as a teaching moment– they castigated and demeaned her. They also noted that “spaz” is used in AAVE vernacular.

Ironically, there was one disabled, queer white woman who understood cultural context. She fired off a succinct tweet that summed up what actually happened.

“Some white disabled folk need to stop edging towards racism, not including [explanations] like AAVE and using snappy first lines like, “Lizzo said a slur,” check yourself. and let’s also reflect on why we do hold Lizzo to a higher standard.”

“GRRRLS,” which sampled The Beastie Boys’ 1986 hit “Girls,” is the second track from her sophomore album “Special.”

The lyrics in question said, “Hold my bag, b*tch, Hold my bag/ Do you see this sh*t?/I’m a sp-z/I’m about to knock somebody out/ Yo, where my best friend?/ She the only one I know to talk me off the deep end.”

Lizzo’s made a conscious decision “do better,” and it was something to see.

But the other important lesson here is– Black women do not play about other Black women.