Lizzo is emphatic about rebranding what is attractive and cool - you could say Lizzo is a champion for diversity.
That's why I was somewhat surprised to hear that Lizzo had been called out for using the word "spaz" in one of her latest songs.
Disability activist and writer Hannah Diviney, who has cerebral palsy, tweeted: "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."
To Lizzo's credit, she apologised and rewrote the song. In a statement on her social media platforms, she said, "it'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. As a fat black woman in America, I've had many hurtful words used against me so I overstand the power words can have (whether intentionally or in my case, unintentionally). I'm proud to say there's a new version of GRRRLS with a lyric change. This is the result of me listening and taking action. As an influential artist I'm dedicated to being part of the change I've been waiting to see in the world. Xoxo, Lizzo."
Lizzo's gaffe follows another blunder made by the pop star Beyonce whose recent song Heated includes a line about people "spazzin' on that a**".
Charming! Beyonce also publicly apologised and her team released a statement: "The word was not used intentionally in a harmful way, it will be replaced."
I did notice that in her original official lyrics she has the N-word censored in such a way that shows she knew this word was unacceptable to be printed in public.
Personally, I find the word "spastic" repulsive in a toe-curling way. Even when it's articulated by a medical professional I flinch, let alone any musician or neanderthal who is trying to be edgy and on the fringe hip.
I have never tolerated the use of the word and was glad to see Hannah Diviney call Lizzo out with her tweet that went viral.
It all brings back memories of the Black Eye Peas when they released a song with the chorus, "let's get retarded", meaning "let's get high and wasted".
After much condemnation of the song, they eventually rewrote the song to: "let's get it started".
In New Zealand at the time, the Edge radio station refused to stop broadcasting it.
I actually thought the word spaz had been extinct for a number of years, but, sigh, apparently not.
I suppose we are getting there slowly, although like Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls rehearsal it's three steps forward, two back.
• Jonny Wilkinson is the CEO of Tiaho Trust - Disability A Matter of Perception, a Whangārei-based disability advocacy organisation.
