If you have been following the news, you might have heard that Beyonce has been under fire for one of her songs. She has come under scrutiny for a lyric in her new song, "Heated", which includes an ableist term.
According to an article published in Variety, Beyonce has been forced to change her ableist slur. Her spokesperson said the word was not meant in a harmful way, and will be removed from the track. The term is commonly used to describe people with disabilities.
This isn't the first time a woman has been criticized for using the ableist slur. In the late 1990s, former White House intern Monica Lewinsky was involved in a scandal with former President Bill Clinton. At the time, the term was a veiled sex reference. However, Beyonce has not commented on the controversy.
The lyric in question aptly demonstrates the power of storytelling, and Beyonce has certainly shown that she is capable of writing lyrics that have a measurable effect on her fans.
During the recording of her latest album, Renaissance, Beyonce incorporated a few creative nods to her own life. For instance, her music video for the song, "Love on Top," features a cameo from Jay-Z. Also, Beyonce was reportedly seen taking Jay-Z to see the Crazy Horse dancers in Paris. Earlier this year, Beyonce announced that she would be touring Glasgow, Scotland in February.
Beyonce's response to this controversy was a mixed bag. While her publicist has not confirmed or denied any changes were being made, her tweets and tweets in the past have suggested that she was making a conscious effort to connect with her listeners in a different manner.