{"id":50224,"date":"2022-06-14T13:53:05","date_gmt":"2022-06-14T13:53:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/lizzo-released-a-new-version-of-grrrls-after-sparking-backlash\/"},"modified":"2022-06-14T13:53:05","modified_gmt":"2022-06-14T13:53:05","slug":"lizzo-released-a-new-version-of-grrrls-after-sparking-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/lizzo-released-a-new-version-of-grrrls-after-sparking-backlash\/","title":{"rendered":"Lizzo Released A New Version Of \u201cGrrrls\u201d After Sparking Backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cThis is how to be an ally. Listen and correct your actions, don’t just get defensive and shut down. “<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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On Friday, Lizzo delighted fans with the release of her new single “Grrrls,” the latest offering from her upcoming fourth studio album Special<\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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But the song didn’t get the reaction that she’d hoped for, and over the weekend it began to trend on TikTok as users criticized the singer for her controversial lyrics.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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“Hold my bag, bitch \/ Hold my bag \/ Do you see this shit? I’ma scop, \u201dthe song begins, with the use of the word\u201c bruc \u201dprompting backlash from listeners.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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In North America, the term is defined as a verb that means to \u201close physical or emotional control,\u201d but in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world it is considered to be an incredibly offensive slur against people with disabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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Taking to Twitter, people called for the singer to apologize for her lyrics and remove the word from her single. \u201c@Lizzo please re-release ‘Grrrls’ without the ableist slur,\u201d one fan tweeted. \u201cThat word is not kind to disabled people. Your music is global and you have a voice folks listen to. We are trusting and asking you to release it without the slur. “<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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@lizzo please re-release \u201cgrrrls\u201d without the ablist slur. That word is not kind to disabled people. Your music is global and you have a voice folks listen to. We are trusting and asking you to release it without the slur. x or a disabled person who just wants to enjoy music<\/p>\n

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\n Twitter: @BodyByBlunts<\/a>
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Another wrote: \u201cI’m disappointed in @lizzo for using the word\u201c sp @ z \u201din 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. “<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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I’m disappointed in @lizzo for using the word \u201csp @ z\u201d in her new song \u201cGrrrls\u201d. 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.<\/p>\n

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\n Twitter: @AutisticCallum_<\/a>
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\u201cHey @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,\u201d one more added. \u201c’Spaz’ doesn’t mean freaked out or crazy. It’s an ableist slur. It’s 2022. Do better. “<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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\n Twitter: @hannah_diviney<\/a>
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A fourth wrote: \u201cIf you’ve never been bullied and called a brush or a spastic because of your disability you don’t get to decide whether Lizzo’s new song is offensive or not. Kindly sit the fuck down. “<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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Here man if you’ve never been bullied and called a brush or a spastic because of your disability you don’t get to decide whether Lizzo’s new song is offensive or not. Kindly sit the fuck down.<\/p>\n

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\n Twitter: @RachelCDailey<\/a>
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But others pleaded genuine ignorance over the word being offensive, with one writing: “I’m shocked and confused that people are in an uproar when I have never in my life known this alleged word Lizzo used to be offensive or a slur ??”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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I’m shocked and confused that people are in an uproar when I have never in my life known this alleged word Lizzo used to be offensive or a slur ?? https:\/\/t.co\/lwaaOXc6Zt<\/p>\n

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\n Twitter: @chaddahsmist<\/a>
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A second person agreed: “I’m just now finding out that word is offensive, I doubt Lizzo meant any harm.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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@Shelbykinsxo I’m just now finding out that word is offensive I doubt Lizzo meant any harm<\/p>\n

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\n Twitter: @LexiProQueen<\/a>
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While the differing reactions appeared to be reflective of a cultural divide, some refuted the defense that the term isn’t considered to be offensive in the United States. One person tweeted: “I personally know multiple disabled people who are offended by the word space, and I live in the US, so that means it is offensive in the US.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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@NEArlyiLLEGAL @ Wadey1977 @ bubbzs91 @starinteleon @lizzo i mean i personally know multiple disabled people who are offended by the word space, and i live in the US, so that means it is offensive in the US lol\u2026<\/p>\n

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\n Twitter: @ clairemarie_31<\/a>
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\u201cThe word absolutely is offensive in the US and has the same meaning as elsewhere just because folks tell you it’s a slang word that they bandy about, doesn’t mean it is okay to say,\u201d another echoed. “Kids are cruel and have used this word to poke fun at each other.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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@AutisticCallum_ @lizzo The word absolutely is offensive in the US and has the same meaning as elsewhere just because folks tell you it’s a slang word that they bandy about, doesn’t mean it is okay to say. Kids are cruel and have used this word to poke fun at each other.<\/p>\n

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\n Twitter: @BracingWeather<\/a>
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The debate rumbled on until Lizzo issued her response in a social media statement on Tuesday. The singer insisted that she would \u201cnever want to promote derogatory language\u201d and that the offense caused was entirely unintentional.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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In fact, Lizzo said that she was “proud” to reveal that she’d released a new version of “Grrrls” with the offensive lyric changed, stating that she is “dedicated to being part of the change” that she has been “waiting to see in the world. “<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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The full statement read: \u201cIt’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. “<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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\n Twitter: @lizzo<\/a>
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“As a fat black woman in America, I’ve had many hurtful words used against me so I overstated the power words can have (whether intentionally or in my case, unintentionally),” she continued. “I’m proud to say there’s a new version of ‘Grrrls’ with a lyric change.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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“This is the result of me listening and taking action. As an influential artist dedicated to being part of the change I’ve been waiting to see in the world, \u201dLizzo concluded.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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The new version of \u201cGrrrls\u201d now opens with: \u201cHold my bag, bitch \/ Hold my bag \/ Do you see this shit? Hold me back. “<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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Needless to say, Lizzo was immediately praised for her proactive response to the backlash, with many thanking the star for being receptive to their concerns and taking action.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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In fact, some said that other celebrities should take note on how to react to being called out as they credited the star for giving them “hope in humanity.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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\u201cI want to give Lizzo her flowers. She set the bar for accountability. Within three days she acknowledged the concerns of the disabled community and is rereleasing the song. I want it to be remembered that a Black woman set the precedent for what accountability should be, \u201done person tweeted.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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I want to give Lizzo her flowers. She set the bar for accountability. Within three days she acknowledged the concerns of the disabled community and is rereleasing the song. I want it to be remembered that a Black woman set the precedent for what accountability should be.<\/p>\n

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\n Twitter: @fairyfemmes<\/a>
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A second wrote: \u201cLizzo just displayed how to learn and fix your mistakes with grace. She did the right thing when being met with deserved criticism, and I hope other artists take note. “<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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Lizzo just displayed how to learn and fix your mistakes with grace. She did the right thing when being met with deserved criticism, and I hope other artists take note<\/p>\n

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\n Twitter: @okjaimee<\/a>
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\u201cAn absolute legend. Take note y’all. This is how to be an ally. Listen and correct your actions, don’t just get defensive and shut down. Thank you @Lizzo, \u201done more added. “You’ve given this little disabled entity a little bit more hope in humanity again.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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An absolute legend. Take note y’all. This is how to be an ally. Listen and correct your actions, don’t just get defensive and shut down. Thank you @Lizzo. You’ve given this little disabled entity a little bit more hope in humanity again. \u2764\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/sgTSHlw1jw<\/p>\n

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\n Twitter: @findmycure<\/a>
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\u201cGrrrls\u201d is the second single from Special<\/i>which is due for release on July 15. The album’s lead single, “About Damn Time,” was released in April and was a huge hit with fans.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n

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