Beyoncé slammed by furious fans after singing ‘appalling’ slur on new album Renaissance
AS one of the world’s biggest stars, there are high expectations when it comes to Beyonce.
But after a furious response from disappointed fans after she used an ableist slur on her first solo album in six years, Renaissance, Beyonce was forced to backtrack yesterday.
Bey uses the offensive term “sp*z,” — derived from the word “spastic,” — on a track called Heated.
But yesterday afternoon she said she would be changing the words to the song to take out the two mentions of the term.
A spokesperson for the singer said: “The word, not used intentionally in a harmful manner, will be replaced in the lyrics.”
It had provoked anger among many fans, particularly as it comes just six weeks after Lizzo used the same word in her song Grrrls.
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Lizzo swiftly apologised and rereleased the song without the term, and now Beyonce has followed suit.
Warren Kirwan, media manager at disability equality charity Scope, said: “It’s appalling that one of the world’s biggest stars has chosen to include this deeply offensive term.
“Just weeks ago, Lizzo received a huge backlash from fans who felt hurt and let down after she used the same abhorrent language.
“Thankfully she did the right thing and re-recorded the song.
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“Words matter because they reinforce the negative attitudes disabled people face every day, and which impact on every aspect of disabled people’s lives.
“Beyoncé has long been a champion of inclusivity and equality, so we’re delighted she has removed this offensive lyric.”
Disability advocate Hannah Diviney shared her disgust at the lyric on social media.
She wrote: “Feels like a slap in the face to me, the disabled community & the progress we tried to make with Lizzo.
“Guess I’ll just keep telling the whole industry to ‘do better’ until ableist slurs disappear from music.”
Despite the fallout over the term, Beyonce is on course to score her fourth UK No1 album this Friday
It is currently outselling the rest of the Top Five combined, while her tune Break My Soul has risen from No6 to No2 and is battling LF System’s Afraid To Feel for the top spot on the singles chart
I have no doubt Beyonce didn’t mean to cause offence with her lyrics.
So I’m glad she has acted quickly to rectify things, so her fans can go back to celebrating her brilliant record.
Para love party spirit
PARAMORE are taking inspiration from Brit band Bloc Party for their first album in five years.
The US rock group’s frontwoman Hayley Williams said: “We started working on new material as a band over the last year and a half.
“Bloc Party was the No1 reference because there was such an urgency to their sound that was different to the fast punk or the emo bands of the early 2000s.”
She added on the Everything Is Emo podcast: “They had their own thing and it was so unique and so dynamic, and it really stuck with us. And I’m so thankful they’re back, playing shows.
“It just makes me feel even more excited to get back out into the world, and maybe cross paths with the band that has been a huge part of our story from day one.”
‘Back on track’
JESS GLYNNE has returned to social media for the first time in three years and hinted new music is coming soon.
She posted a video on her Instagram and TikTok accounts yesterday in which she covered Beyonce’s Break My Soul, with her own telling lyrics.
She sings: “Made a few cutbacks, had a few setbacks, girl had to realign.
“Thought I would react but I’m back on track, everything great takes time.”
Jess hasn’t released an album since 2018’s Always In Between and I told in January how she had split from her label Atlantic after a series of disagreements over her future.
It sounds like she finally has her next steps sorted.
Sunny side up for Dua
JET-setter Dua Lipa looks just purr-fect as she bares her stomach in this black catsuit while headlining a Montreal music festival.
The Levitating singer, who was on top form during a string of performances in North America, has now jetted back to Europe.
She will be back on stage in Kosovo on Thursday for the third annual Sunny Hill Festival – an event she runs with her dad, Dukagjin.
In an email to fans she said: “When I lived in Kosovo from the ages of 11 to 15, my dream was to one day see my favourite musicians perform live in my hometown – and our festival was born from my and my father’s desire to achieve exactly that.
“I’m incredibly proud of the team that helps us put our festival on, especially as the weekend also aids our Sunny Hill Foundation, which supports different Kosovan organisations, especially in arts and culture.”
Mabel’s talk of the toon
MABEL packed a punch in bunches at LooseFest in Newcastle.
The Let Them Know singer played to more than 38,000 revellers at the festival in the Toon, which also had performances from acts including the Black Eyed Peas and Clean Bandit.
Fresh from going to No2 with her second album About Last Night, Mabel wore a cosmic-inspired one-piece with a pink bikini top underneath for her performance.
Yesterday she shared a series of snaps from backstage at the event and told her Instagram followers: “Oh my dayzzzz I’m tiyaaaad but yday was so cute.”
KATE MOSS’ little sister Lottie has tried modelling and selling X-rated photos of herself online.
Now it seems she is going into acting in a bid to make a quick quid.
She tweeted yesterday: “Just got through the most exciting script. Can’t wait to base all of my happiness on getting this role.”
Lottie appears to have no acting experience, apart from featuring in a music video for The Kooks’ song Jesse James in March.
So if she can break into the industry this easily, nepotism is alive and well.
TOM WALKER is back with his new single called Sun Will Shine – which is apt given how hot it has been.
The singer teamed up with Robin Schulz for the track which is out now.
He’s not the only Brit who has been busy in the studio though.
GABRIELLE APLIN has announced her fourth album, Phosphorescent, although fans face a bit of a wait because it won’t be out until January next year.
Gabrielle said: “I was writing again for fun. I was purely expressing myself with no brief.
“No-one was telling me what to do, in fact I didn’t have to do anything.”
Solo joy for S Club Jo
JO O’MEARA finally feels she’s free of S Club 7 – 19 years after the band split.
The Noughties favourites went their separate ways in 2003 after scoring four UK No1 singles.
But now singer Jo has just signed a new music contract, she feels she’s escaped S Club’s legacy.
She said: “I’ve got my first record deal in 18 years and feel incredible.
“I’ve come to an age where I just want to enjoy being me and I feel like I’ve found myself as an artist. I know where I fit in, whereas before, I didn’t – I was always just Jo from S Club 7.
“I’ve been on my own now for quite a while and I’ve got to know who I am as an individual, and I’m loving every second of it.”
Jo, who is headlining the Girl Power Safari Nights concert at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, in Doncaster, on Saturday, added: “I wouldn’t change the past and I still sing Reach, as everyone loves it.
“But it is great I can now express myself. I’m in the studio writing songs that come straight from me – it is so liberating.”
Ewan’s £200 fan snaps
EWAN McGREGOR went through a costly divorce in 2020 and now it’s his fans who appear to be paying for it.
The Star Wars actor will appear at the Superhero Car Show and Comic Con event in Texas this weekend and is charging £200 a time to pose for a photo with fans – plus an additional £200 if they want an autograph too.
Ewan split from his wife, production designer Eve Mavrakis, in 2017 after 22 years together and they were finally divorced two years ago, ahead of his wedding to US actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead earlier this year.
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But as well as splitting their assets, Ewan – who was once said to be worth £20million – is now paying his ex more than £40,000 a month in child and spousal support.
Even with the massive prices he is charging, he will need to grin and bear it for a lot of photos if he hopes to cover those expenses.