Beyoncé’s latest studio album, Renaissance, will likely top the charts next week and earn “Album of the Year” consideration at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Despite the overwhelmingly positive reception that it has received, the album has been at the center of controversy as well. Most notably, the use of a Kelis track on “Energy” was nixed after the two-time Grammy nominee objected to its use on Instagram last week. In addition, Beyoncé announced that she would alter the lyrics of “Heated” after several activists and organizations took issue with the use of a word that has been deemed a slur to those diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy. Now, it appears that Monica Lewinsky would like the chart-topping star to change the lyrics of yet another track.
On Tuesday, Billboard reported that Monica Lewinsky shared a screenshot of an article that highlighted Beyoncé’s decision to change the lyrics of “Heated.” In response, she asked if the multi-hyphenate star would also change the lyrics of “Partition.”
“Uhmm, while we’re at it… #Partition,” she tweeted, according to Billboard.
“Partition” was released as the second single from Beyoncé’s fifth solo studio album, Beyonce. Co-written and co-produced by a team that includes Mike Dean, M.I.A, Justin Timberlake, The-Dream, Key Wayne and Timbaland, the track mentions Lewinsky by name at the end of the first verse.
“Oh, he so horny, yeah, he want to f*ck/He popped all my buttons and he ripped my blouse/He Monica Lewinsky’d all on my gown,” she sings.
Beyoncé has not publicly responded to Lewinsky’s request, but several of her supporters have via Twitter.
“Beyoncé was not the first person to make a Monica Lewinsky reference yet that’s the only person she ever addresses…not to mention it’s been a decade,” one fan tweeted.
Another fan also noted that Monica Lewinsky seemingly referenced the song lyric in her Twitter bio. “Are you not proud of it?” one Twitter user asked.
In contrast, several observers also shot back at those who critiqued Monica Lewinsky’s request.
“Monica Lewinsky was manipulated and sexually coerced at the age of 24 by the President of the United States and Beyoncé fans, who are self-identified feminists, are telling her to shut up about her casual reference to her ordeal,” one user replied.
At this time, it’s unclear if Beyoncé will look to address the matter publicly.
