Beyoncé is criticised for using an offensive lyric on her Renaissance album

Beyoncé has come under fire for some of the lyrics of her new album, Renaissance, which contain an ableist slur. The offensive phrase, which is frequently used to belittle persons with spastic cerebral palsy, appears twice in the song Heated, which Canadian superstar Drake co-wrote.

Only a few weeks prior, US pop sensation Lizzo issued an apology for using the same phrase in her song GRRRLS. Disability rights activist Hannah Diviney claims that Beyoncé’s latest song “feels like a slap in the face” after that occurrence. She tells the BBC, “I’m tired and angry that we’re having this topic again so soon after we got such a profound and forward-thinking response from Lizzo.

Disability advocacy Beyoncé is being urged by Scope to redo the song without the insult.

According to media manager Warren Kirwan, “Words matter because they perpetuate the negative sentiments disabled people deal with on a daily basis.” Beyoncé has long fought for equality and inclusivity, therefore we implore her to take down this insensitive line. The Beyoncé team has been approached by the BBC for a response.

According to Nikki Fox, a BBC disability journalist, “It’s so annoying because it’s so catchy.” But that word is awful. Although we acknowledge it is occasionally used differently in the US, it is a word we would never, ever use in the UK. Fox points out that there are 11 writers on the song, and multiple people at Beyoncé’s record label would have approved it.

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