This song features American actress, singer and model Zoe Kravitz, who is the daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet. Her other musical contributions include supplying vocals on Drake's hit tune "Passionfruit." Monáe explained the collaboration to Billboard:

"I love Zoe Kravitz; she and I actually share the same birthday. She's a friend, so I've had conversations with her about current affairs and what kind of country we're living in. We've talked about women's rights and minority rights, and it just felt fitting based off of our conversations for her to be a part of 'Screwed.'"

Monáe uses the word "screwed" in two ways. She is saying the human race is now "'screwed" due to the current, global political climate and she also utilizes the word in its other meaning as a synonym for sexual intercourse.