Singer/songwriter Lizzo recently apologized for using an offensive word “spaz” in her new song “GRRRLS” after members of the disabled community complained, noting that the word is a slur for those with cerebral palsy. Lizzo immediately said she’d rerecord the song without the offensive word. In this op-ed, Karl Kuban, a BU School of Medicine professor emeritus of pediatrics and former Boston Medical Center pediatric neurology division chief, says Lizzo deserves plaudits for listening to those who spoke up and shared how their life was impacted by the word.
The song “Grrrls” was released Friday and updated Monday to remove a derogatory term for people with disabilities, which she said she did not use with an intent to offend.