Warning: This story contains language and content that may be distracting to some readers. Discretion is advised.
International pop star Lizzo has changed lyrics in her new single grrrr following a response from disability activists online who complained that the song contained an offensive slur.
grrrr was released last week by Lizzo, 34, and originally featured an insulting term for cerebral palsy (aka spastic diplegia) in the song’s first verse.
In the song’s original opening, Lizzo sang, “Hold my bag, b—-/Hold my bag/ Do you see this s—? I am spazz.”
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Many fans and disability activists expressed their disappointment online, explaining that the term “spazz” should be removed and the song re-recorded.
Hi @lizzo my disability Cerebral Palsy is literally classified as spastic diplegia (where spasticity refers to infinite painful tightness in my legs) your new song makes me pretty angry + sad. “Spaz” doesn’t mean panicked or crazy. It’s an insulting slur. It’s 2022. Do it better.
— Hannah Diviney (@hannah_diviney) June 12, 2022
Disability activist Hannah Diviney, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, was one of many who tweeted Lizzo calling for the text change.
“‘Spaz’ doesn’t mean crazy or crazy,” Diviney wrote. “It’s an insulting slur. It’s 2022. Do it better.”
I am disappointed in @lizzo for using the word “[email protected]” in her new song “Grrrls”. There’s no excuse for using an insulting insult in a song in 2022. As someone who stands up for women, plus-size people and others who mistreat society, Lizzo preaches inclusivity and should do better.
— Callum Stephen (he/him) (@AutisticCallum_) June 11, 2022
The singer clearly took the criticism seriously, as she announced on Monday that she has released a new version of the song without the ‘harmful word’.
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the reworked grrrr track now contains the words “hold me back” instead of the offensive lyrics.
“Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote derogatory language,” Lizzo wrote in a statement on social media.
“As a fat black woman in America, I’ve used a lot of hurtful words against me, so I understand the power that words can have (whether intentionally or in my case, unintentionally),” she continued.
She claimed the text change was a “result of me listening and taking action.”
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“As an influential artist, I am committed to being part of the change I expected to see in the world,” she concluded before signing the statement.
grrrr has been updated on several streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube.
Fans and activists online rejoiced at the lyrics change, thankful to be heard by the singer.
I’m going to cry 😭 Thank you so much for listening to us Lizzo and for understanding that this was always meant to be soft and open to learn it really means the world ❤️. You are a true ally https://t.co/RbQCbAwpR6
— Hannah Diviney (@hannah_diviney) June 13, 2022
Good for Lizzie.
We are all only human and we all get things wrong from time to time. It’s how we deal with the resulting criticism and move forward that helps us define.https://t.co/rrEASBV8vI
— Malorie Blackman is gone. (@malorieblackman) June 14, 2022
To be proud of @lizzo for listening to the disabled community and changing her song. Everyone makes mistakes – what matters is how we react to them. She couldn’t have said and done anything or blown up the disabled community and disappeared, but she didn’t. This should set the precedent.❤️ https://t.co/wLJPypajr6
— Callum Stephen (he/him) (@AutisticCallum_) June 14, 2022
According to the government of Canada, a diagnosis of cerebral palsy “comes with a significant economic and social burden”.
CanChild, an Ontario-based research center for the study of children and youth with developmental disabilities, claims that one in 400 Canadians will be diagnosed with cerebral palsy, making it the most common physical disability in children.

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