Sia only just debuted the trailer for Music, the musical movie which she wrote, directed, and produced. It stars Sia’s forever muse, 18-year-old Maddie Ziegler, Kate Hudson, and Leslie Odom Jr. Maddie stars as a non-verbal teenager who is autistic, and it didn’t take long for Sia to get hit with some heat over the choice to not cast an autistic person in the world, as well choosing to work with the controversial organization Autism Speaks. Sia reacted well to the criticism and by that I mean she reacted like shit. A great way to start the movie’s marketing campaign! They obviously used Kate Hudson’s Fabletics person.
Sia trended on Twitter this morning over her reaction to backlash from the autistic community who aren’t happy with her new movie. Sia started off hot. She’s pissed off:
Grrrrrrrrrr. Fuckity fuck why don’t you watch my film before you judge it? FURY.
— sia (@Sia) November 20, 2020
And then Sia declared that she cast neurotypical people and trans actors in her movie, and she didn’t cast them as “fucking prostitutes or drug addicts”:
I cast thirteen neuroatypical people, three trans folk, and not as fucking prostitutes or drug addicts but s as doctors, nurses and singers. Fucking sad nobody’s even seen the dang movie. My heart has always been in the right place.
— sia (@Sia) November 20, 2020
Sia got angrier, telling one autistic person that they weren’t cast because they’re a bad actor. If you had “Sia Mocks Autistic Actors” on your 2020 Bingo From Hell card, congratulations, it’s time to collect a prize:
Maybe you’re just a bad actor.
— sia (@Sia) November 20, 2020
She then further defended herself by saying she did tons of research on autism ahead of making the film:
Duh. I spent three fucking years researching, I think that’s why I’m so fucking bummed.
— sia (@Sia) November 20, 2020
But some people noted that she worked on the movie with Autism Speaks which many autistic people have accused of being a hate group that mistreats neurodivergent people:
Autism Speaks is trending again.
So here's a reminder Autism Speaks is a hate group that funnels money and efforts away from autistic care and accesses, and is thusly responsible for the death and suffering of countless autistic people.
Stop giving money to Autism Speaks.
— Be Grey; Do Crime
(@Grey_IsTrue) November 20, 2020
(@Grey_IsTrue) Sia explained Autism Speaks only came on to the movie after it was finished and that she had no idea they were such a “polarizing” group.
Autism speaks came on board long after the film was finished, four years in fact. I had no idea it was such a polarizing group!
— sia (@Sia) November 20, 2020
The Wrap says that Sia first cast a non-verbal actress in the role but the girl didn’t enjoy the process:
I actually tried working with a a beautiful young girl non verbal on the spectrum and she found it unpleasant and stressful. So that’s why I cast Maddie.
— sia (@Sia) November 20, 2020
Mocking is the very last thing either Maddie or I wanted to be so misunderstood. Please watch it before you judge it.
— sia (@Sia) November 20, 2020
Sia continued to defend the movie by saying that she based Maddie’s role on her friend:
I’m so confused. The character is based completely on my neuro atypical friend. He found it too stressful being non verbal, and I made this movie with nothing but love for him and his mother.
— sia (@Sia) November 20, 2020
Maddie hasn’t responded to any of this, but in an earlier interview where she talked about the movie, she apparently said that she prepared by watching YouTube videos of autistic children. But wait there’s more, Maddie watched videos of their parents recording their “episodes.”
Holy fuck. Maddie Ziegler didn't watch just any videos about autism on YouTube to prepare her for the role in Sia's film. She watched videos of autistic children having meltdowns. pic.twitter.com/EleleiwdDO
— Sarah Kurchak (@fodderfigure) November 19, 2020
So yeah, while there’s a lot of people who are telling Sia that she needs to cover up her movie with a giant wig like she covers up her head for performances, her “bonus mom” Kris Jenner is probably sending her an edible arrangement with a note that reads: You’re doing amazing, sweetie. Congratulations on all the ATTENTION!
Happy late birthday bonus mom! I hope you got my edible fruit arrangement
.
I love you so very much.@KrisJenner— sia (@Sia) November 8, 2020
.Pic: YouTube