After criticism of a song’s lyrics came up, Beyoncé’s (40) team announced that the corresponding line would be changed. It’s a twist on the song “Heated” found on the recently released album “Renaissance”.
“The word, not intentionally used in an offensive manner, will be replaced,” the team confirmed in a statement to the US industry magazine “Variety”. According to the report, there had been an outcry on social media. The British BBC also has confirmation that the line of text will be changed – although the phrase could therefore have a different use in the USA than in the UK, where it is often used pejoratively in connection with people suffering from a cerebral movement disorder . A “lyric video” for the song on Beyoncé’s YouTube channel has already been made private.
Hannah Diviney, who advocates for people with disabilities, previously told the broadcaster that it felt “like a slap in the face”. “I’m tired and frustrated that we’re having this conversation again so quickly after receiving such a meaningful and progressive response from Lizzo.” The charity Scope had asked for the word to be removed from the lyrics, according to the BBC.
Beyoncé’s colleague Lizzo (34) also originally used it in her song “Grrrls”. After being made aware of the situation, she tweeted in June that there was now a new version of the song. She opposes “derogatory language” and wants to be part of a change she would like to see in the world.
Warren Kirwan, Scope’s media manager, welcomes Beyoncé’s decision. It is good that she is also acting so quickly. One hopes that such words will no longer appear in song lyrics – especially not in those of influential music stars like Beyoncé or Lizzo.
