Beyoncé will remove a derogatory term from the song "Heated" after criticism of discrimination against people with disabilities

Beyoncé reveals details of the creation of her album "Renaissance" 0:53

(CNN) --

Beyoncé says she's removing a slur about disability from her new album, "Renaissance," after facing backlash online and criticism from disability advocates.

The 40-year-old singer received rave reviews when she released her dance-inspired seventh studio album on Friday, but came under fire over the weekend when fans noticed the inclusion of a derogatory term in the song. "heated".

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In the song, co-written by Drake, Beyoncé sings the line: "Spazzin' on that ass, spazz on that ass."

Beyoncé's seventh studio album, "Renaissance," was released on July 29.

Although the word "spaz" is often used colloquially in English to describe "go crazy" or "go crazy", it derives from the word "spastic", which is considered denigrating to people with spastic cerebral palsy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this disorder affects a person's ability to control their muscles, especially those of the arms and legs.

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"So @Beyonce used the word 'sp**' in her new song 'Heated'. Feels like a slap in the face to me, the disability community and the progress we're trying to make with Lizzo," she wrote. On Twitter, disability advocate Hannah Diviney.

"I guess I'll just keep telling the whole industry to 'do better' until the ableist slurs are gone from music."

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Another commenter tweeted: "F****e @Beyonce. You should be a role model, not make money off lazy use of derogatory language. Shame on you."

Beyoncé's representatives confirmed Monday that the lyrics would be removed, telling CNN in a statement that "the word, not intentionally used in a harmful way, will be replaced."

Fans had been eagerly awaiting "Renaissance" after the singer released the first single, "Break My Soul," in June.

It was her first full-length album since 2016's "Lemonade."

Opening up about her creative process on Instagram, Beyoncé told fans, "Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and find an escape during a scary time for the world."

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The singer said that her "intent was to create a safe place, a place without judgement. A place to be free from perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, to break free, to feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration."

The singer's decision to release "Heated" comes weeks after her partner Lizzo announced a new version of her song "GRRRLS" following complaints about the disability community's use of the same term.

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