Beyoncé has officially changed the lyrics in her song “Heated” from her recently released album, “Renaissance.” According to Variety, the singer received backlash over using the word “spazz,” which many view as ableist and offensive language. In the medical field, “spastic” is used to describe a form of cerebral palsy, a disability that involves muscle tone and stiffness in the arms and legs. The outlet obtained a statement from Beyoncé’s team that read, “The word, not used intentionally in a harmful way, will be replaced.”
Afterward, notable socialite Monica Lewskiny shared a link to the story and hinted that Beyoncé remove the lyrics on an older track too.
“Uhmm, while we’re at it… #Partition,” tweeted Lewinsky on Monday, Aug. 1.
In the second verse of Beyoncé’s 2014 track “Partition,” she sings, “Oh he so horny, he want to f–k / He popped all my buttons and he ripped my blouse/ He Monica Lewinsky’d all on my gown.”
A Twitter user then asked, “Are you not proud of it?” and shared a screenshot of Lewinsky’s Twitter bio that describes herself as a “rap song muse.”
A second user said, “‘rap song muse’ is in your bio. You like the references. Only relevance you have as of lately.”
In response, Lewinsky explained that she’s learned to laugh through the “humiliating” experience, accompanied with a link to her Ted Talk titled, “The Price of Shame.” The video currently has close to 13 million YouTube views.
“Actually, it’s how I’ve learned to deal with painful or humiliating things,” she replied. “I find the humor. eg in my ted talk.”
A fourth person curiously asked the 49-year-old if she had reached out to Beyoncé’s team. She said, “no I haven’t. i did mention it in the first vanity fair article i wrote in 2014… which was the first public thing I’d done in 10 years. but you make an interesting/fair point…”
Artists have been referring to Lewinsky’s affair with former President Bill Clinton for decades. In a 2014 op-ed for Vanity Fair, Lewinsky blamed herself for having a “consensual” relationship with a married man in the late 1990s.
Regarding the “Partition” song, Lewinsky said, “Thanks, Beyoncé, but if we’re verbing, I think you meant ‘Bill Clinton’d all on my gown,’ not ‘Monica Lewinsky’d.’”
One fan shared a screenshot from the op-ed and questioned how Lewinsky could be offended after initially making jokes about it.
“Is this you thanking Beyoncé and joking about it yourself to VANITY FAIR? It seemed fine then @monicalewinsky.” A second person added, “Good point.”
Many were confused with Lewinsky suggesting Beyoncé change the lyrics a decade later, but hasn’t asked other artists who referenced her to do the same. However, the majority agreed that facts are facts and no one should mess with history.
One person said, “Beyoncé was NOT the first person to make a monica lewinsky reference yet that’s the only person she ever addresses… not to mention it’s been a decade.”
Another said, “A historical fact does not get removed. But, then again, that’s your personality, right?”
