If you are wondering why is ‘Spaz ableist and derogatory, then the slang refers to Spastic Diplegia, a type of spastic cerebral palsy that primarily affects motor control in the legs.
Lizzo recently used the term in her new song GRRRLS, and the song received wide criticism from specially-abled people and advocates. The outburst on the internet compelled the singer to apologize to her audience and remove the word from her song, according to The Guardian.
Lizzo, aka Melissa Viviane Jefferson, is a singer, rapper, and composer from the United States. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and then relocated to Houston, Texas, where she began performing before relocating to Minneapolis, where she began her hip-hop music recording career.
Let us learn more about why Spaz is ableist and derogatory and take a closer look at the song’s meaning.
Why Is Spaz Ableist?
Spaz is ableist, meaning offensive towards disabled people.
The word refers to Spastic Diplegia, a type of spastic cerebral palsy that primarily affects motor control in the legs.
Although the word was used to describe losing “physical or emotional control,” the word’s meaning has changed in the past few decades, according to USA Today.
The original lyric that offended fans came from the song’s line, “Do you see this (expletive)? I’m a spazz,” according to USA Today.
As the song went viral on the internet recently, people outpoured the singer and criticized Lizzo for using Derogatory words in her song.
One Twitter user wrote, “Hey @lizzo, my disability Cerebral Palsy is 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.”
Meaning Of Word Used In Lizzo Song GRRRLS
The word Spaz used in Lizzo’s song GRRRLS changed with time and interpretation.
It is derived from the term “spastic,” which has historically been used to describe persons suffering from spastic paralysis and cerebral palsy.
“Spaz” or “spaz out” has also been used to refer to someone losing bodily control or simply being “strange” or “uncool.” It is often used in a negative way to characterize persons in the disability community, according to NPR.
According to Webster’s New World College Dictionary, it is “someone viewed as clumsy, awkward, foolish, strange, and so forth.”
However, after wide criticism, the singer changed the lyrics of the song and updated the changed versions on all the streaming services and digital stores. The song GRRRLS is part of her new album ‘Special,’ which is set to release in July 2022.
Who Is Singer Lizzo? Wikipedia Details
Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter.
She relocated to Houston, Texas, where she began performing, before relocating to Minneapolis, where she launched her hip-hop music recording career.
Lizzo released two studio albums before signing with Nice Life and Atlantic Records: Lizzobangers (2013) and Big Grrrl Small World (2015). Coconut Oil, Lizzo’s debut major-label EP, was released in 2016.
Lizzo’s third studio album, Cuz I Love You (2019), debuted in the top five on the US Billboard 200. The singles “Juice” and “Tempo” were from the album. Apart from singing and rapping, Lizzo has also worked as an actor, providing a voice in the animated film UglyDolls (2019) and appearing in the criminal comedy-drama film Hustlers (2019), according to her Wikipedia profile.