Beyoncé criticised for using offensive ableist lyric on Renaissance album

Beyoncé will rerecord a new track after facing criticism for using an ableist slur in a song on her new album, Renaissance.

The derogatory term which is used to demean people with spastic cerebral palsy occurs twice in the song 'Heated', co-written by Drake.

It comes after Lizzo faced criticism for using the same word in her song 'GRRRLS' in June. Following the backlash, she apologised and re-recorded the song without the offensive lyric.

"Let me make one thing clear: I never want to promote derogatory language," she wrote in a statement posted to social media.

"As a fat black woman in America, I've had many hurtful words used against me so I understand the power words can have (whether intentionally or in my case, unintentionally)."

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People are now similarly criticising Beyonce. Disability charity Scope are asking Beyoncé to re-record the song, without the insult.

"Words matter because they reinforce the negative attitudes disabled people face every day," media manager Warren Kirwan told the BBC.

"Beyoncé has long been a champion of inclusivity and equality, so we'd urge her to remove this offensive lyric."

Meanwhile, here is some of the reaction on Twitter:

According to Sky News, Beyonce will rerecord the song with a publicist for the star saying that the slur was not "used intentionally in a harmful way."

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