SPECIAL

Lizzo Listens, Apologizes For Using An Offensive Word, And Changes The Lyrics To Her Song ‘Grrrls’

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This past Friday, Lizzo released “Grrrls,” the latest single off of her upcoming album Special. The song is a bouncy, playful track about her and her girls having each other’s backs. Trouble is, there was a word that Lizzo used in the song’s lyrics that many fans found ableist and incredibly offensive.

In the song’s original lyrics, Lizzo sings, “Hold my bag, bitch, Hold my bag. Do you see this sh*t? I’mma spazz.” The use of the word “spazz” is seen as derogatory to people with cerebral palsy, a condition also known as “spastic diplegia.” Fans and advocates for people with disabilities flooded Lizzo with requests to remove the lyric citing how hurtful it was to them and offensive to many. “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,” tweeted Hannah Diviney, a disability advocate with cerebral palsy.

Another user said that, “As someone who champions women, plus size people and others whom society treats poorly, Lizzo preaches inclusivity and should do better.”

Well, Lizzo has listened to these valid concerns and not only issued an apology, but has also changed the lyrics of the song. Her full statement posted to social media is as follows:

“It’s been brought to my attention that there is a harmful word in my new song “GRRRLS”,” a statement on Twitter from the “Truth Hurts” singer began. “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”

Now instead of “I’mma spazz,” the lyrics say “Do you see this sh*t, hold me back.” It’s a very simple tweak that doesn’t change the point of the song at all, but now doesn’t offend people with disabilities. The new version has already been replaced in the YouTube link, but the Spotify version of the song had not yet changed as of press time.

As for Hannah Diviney, the advocate who first reached out to her on Saturday, she read Lizzo’s statement and was over the moon. “I’m going to cry. Thank you so much for hearing us Lizzo and for understanding that this was only ever meant gently and being open to learning, it honestly means the world. You’re a real true ally.”

Listen to the updated version of “Grrrls” above.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Lizzo Is Both Playful And Bashful On Her Pro-Ladies Anthem, ‘Grrrls’

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Next week will bring us less than a month away from Lizzo’s third album Special. She announced the project in April with the disco-themed bop “About That Time.” Shortly after that song was released, she performed it during an appearance on Saturday Night Live, where she also premiered the album’s title track. Fast forward to now and Lizzo is back in action with her new single “Grrrls.” She arrives on the track as both a playful and bashful spirit, but it’s all in the name of supporting and defending her girlfriends.

Back in April, when Lizzo announced Special, she gave some insight about the project during an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. “I think that the music really is going to speak for itself,” she said. “I’m writing songs about love from every direction, and I hope that I can turn a little bit of the fear that’s been running rampant in this world, energetically into love.”

She added, “I had a lot of fear, and I had to do the work on myself, and this music is some of that work in turning that fear into love. I hope that when people listen to this album, it makes their day just a little bit better, a little bit more filled with love.”

You can listen to “Grrrls” in the video above.

Special is out 7/15 via Nice Life and Atlantic. You can pre-save it here.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Lizzo Asked Chris Evans To Play Piano On Her New Album, ‘Special’

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Lizzo SiriusXM Morning Mash Up 2022
Getty Image

Lizzo’s new album, Special, is set for release on July 15, but we don’t know much about the album yet. There’s the single “About Damn Time,” of course, but there’s not a ton of info about the LP beyond that. Now, though, Lizzo has pulled back the curtain a little bit, revealing that, despite her best efforts, the album will not feature Chris Evans playing piano.

On a new episode of Spout Podcast, Lizzo said, “I literally hit him up and was like, ‘Play piano on my album,’ and he just said, ‘Haha.’ It would have been really cool, but unfortunately not this time.”

Yes, Evans is a capable pianist, as the actor reminded fans last October by playing a portion of Prince’s “Purple Rain.”

Lizzo also addressed internet rumors that the new album features a duet with Harry Styles. Lizzo didn’t actually outright debunk the idea, saying, “That is so funny. The internet going to internet. That’s all I’ll say about that.” Lizzo also said of the LP, “I think people are going to be really surprised at how many love songs are on this album.”

Elsewhere, she spoke about why she thinks her Amazon Prime show Watch Out For The Big Grrrls is building a strong connection with audiences, saying, “I think it’s because of the stories. I couldn’t have found better human beings to represent the big girls. They are so talented, so beautiful, and so willing to be vulnerable. And I think vulnerability is, you know, everyone has like a bullsh*t detector these days, like, we can read through bullsh*t. And I think none of these girls are bullish. All of these girls are 100 percent real. And I think people really connect with that.”

Listen to the full Lizzo episode of Spout Podcast below.

Special is out 7/15 via Atlantic. Pre-order it here.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

A Lizzo Documentary Will Premiere On HBO Max This Fall

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Lizzo 2022 HBO Max
HBO Max

Lizzo fans will soon get an up-close and personal look at the singer, rapper, and flutist’s creative process, and it’s about damn time! At the Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront presentation this week at Madison Square Garden, the “Truth Hurts” singer revealed an as-yet-untitled documentary on her is set to premiere on HBO Max this fall, Deadline reports.

The documentary will highlight Lizzo’s humble beginnings, her meteoric rise to fame, and the creative process behind her major-label debut album, Cuz I Love You, and her upcoming album, Special.

“Growing up, I never dreamed I’d get to experience all of the things I’ve accomplished in my life, and I’m just getting started,” Lizzo said in a statement. “I’m so excited I get to share and relive my journey with my fans and HBO Max. From Cuz I Love You to my dramatic world tour, losing and gaining love, and creating my new album Special, y’all get to see the amount of time, patience, blood, sweat, and tears that went into this process. It takes ten years to become an ‘overnight success,’ and hopefully I can inspire other young creatives to keep going.”

The documentary will be directed by Doug Pray, whose credits also include HBO’s hip-hop docuseries The Defiant Ones. Lizzo will executive produce the documentary by way of her production company, Lizzobangers.

Special is out 7/15 via Atlantic. Pre-save it here.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Who Would Win If Lizzo And Saweetie Faced Off In A Weird Food ‘Verzuz’ Battle?

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Lizzo is back in a big way, and her “About Damn Time” single has already made its way to Saturday Night Live and other late night shows. But as the pop star continues to promote her latest album, Special, other topics are obviously getting brought into the mix as well.

On a recent appearance on Power 106 Los Angeles, Lizzo had a wide-ranging discussion with the hosts about her music, her new shapewear line, Yitty, and also, her sometimes crazy food habits. But that convo obviously led the hosts to bring up another woman in the industry who is well-known for her somewhat zany food choices — and that’s Saweetie. Right around the 30 minute mark the group gets into a convo about these two women and their strange palates, and who would win if the were to face off in a strange foods Verzuz battle.

“Saweetie be doing sh*t that’s like hmmm I might try that,” Lizzo said. “But I do sh*t that’s unthinkable. That makes people… yeah, it makes them gag.” So in Lizzo’s mind, yes, she would be winning that face off. But who knows what Saweetie’s response will be once she hears these fighting words. Check out the clip up top.

Lizzo Was A Retro-Glam Diva For Her ‘SNL’ Performances Of ‘About Damn Time’ And ‘Special’

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New music from Lizzo is a good thing in most people’s books, but a new single and a live debut on Saturday Night Live? Now that’s an embarrassment of riches. The pop star and now inclusive shapewear line designer took to the SNL stage tonight after her latest single, “About Damn Time” had only been out for a few days. That didn’t stop her from dubbing it the “song of the summer,” before it even dropped, and showing out for the retro song’s disco-themed music video.

Replicating some of that video’s style for tonight’s live debut, Lizzo and her dancers were clad in glittery neon outfits and performed on a stage lit with colorful bands of lights. The R&B star and her all-female, all women of color band turned out a super funky version of the song, with light choreo and lots of feeling. Check out that performance up top and check out her second performance below. For her second song of the night, Lizzo chose to perform “Special,” the title track off her forthcoming album of the same name, this time in a glamorous pink gown. Since Lizzo was both the musical performer and guest star on tonight’s episode, she appeared in a whole host of skits too, so check those out if you want more.

Lizzo Rediscovers Her Glamour In The Video For Her Disco-Themed Bop, ‘About Damn Time’

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Lizzo is gearing up to take over the summer. She gave a head’s up about her goals earlier this week as she teased the release of her latest song, “About Damn Time,” through a confident Instagram video. Lizzo called the record the “song of the summer,” and now that it’s here, there may be some validity to that. “About Damn Time” is an empowering anthem that finds Lizzo overcoming her past doubts and rediscovering her glamour through the uptempo record. The track also arrives with a video that watches her turn the halls of the quiet Stressed And Sexy Support Group building into a colorful and vibrant dancefloor.

Along with the new track, Lizzo announced the title and release date of her upcoming third album. Special will arrive on July 15 and it will also include the previously-released “Rumors” with Cardi B. “I think that the music really is going to speak for itself,” she said about the album in an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music according to a press release. “I’m writing songs about love from every direction, and I hope that I can turn a little bit of the fear that’s been running rampant in this world, energetically into love.”

She continued, “I had a lot of fear, and I had to do the work on myself, and this music is some of that work in turning that fear into love. I hope that when people listen to this album, it makes their day just a little bit better, a little bit more filled with love.”

You can watch the video for “About Damn Time” above.

Special is out 7/15 via Nice Life and Atlantic. You can pre-save it here.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.