Beyoncé nearly broke the internet on Friday with the release of her latest studio album, Renaissance. Within hours of the album’s release, fans were quick to share their favorite tracks, marvel at the transition between songs and praise the era-defining musician. As many were praising the Houston native, there were several organizations and activists who were less than pleased with her recent work. Most notably, several disability organizations took issue with the album’s 11th track, “Heated.” Specifically, many listeners took issue with her use of a word that has been deemed a slur towards those dealing with spastic cerebral palsy.
“Sp***in’ on that ass, sp** on that ass,” she sings.
Sky News in the U.K. reports that Warren Kirwan of the disability equality charity Scope called the superstar’s word choice “deeply offensive and “appalling.” Disability rights advocate Hannah Diviney wrote that her “heart sank” when she heard the track.
“It’s not very often that I don’t know what to say, rendered speechless by ignorance, sadness and a simmering anger born of bone-deep exhaustion. But that’s how I feel right now,” Diviney wrote in an op-ed published by The Guardian.
In response, Beyoncé has announced that she will remove the “deeply offensive” lyrics from the track and re-release it.
“The word, not used intentionally in a harmful way, will be replaced,” a representative for the multi-hyphenate star told Insider.
Beyoncé is not the only star who has apologized for using the word in a song recently. Not long ago, Lizzo faced backlash for using the same word in a song called “Grrrls” from her latest album, Special. Like Beyoncé, she apologized for using the word and re-released the song.
“I’m so tired. Disabled people deserve better. I don’t want to have this conversation again,” Lizzo told her fan base.
At this time, there is no exact timetable for when the song will be re-released.
