Sia’s new movie Music has recently been released, but the negative depiction of the autistic people has caused the movie to recently become rightfully criticised for its insensitivity. Despite this, the movie somehow received two highly coveted Golden Globe nominations, and the autistic community and allies are rightfully upset.
Music is a movie co-directed by Sia about an autistic girl Music who has to be taken care of by her half-sister after her grandmother’s passing. Together they learn how to solve myriads of problems to learn more about each other.
The movie is currently up for two Golden Globe nominations. One being best picture (musical/comedy) and lead actress (Kate Hudson).
The plot of the movie may seem encouraging, but the autsitic community has shown discomfort with the casting of Maddie Ziegler who is not autistic and the offensive portrayal of autistic people.
While not everyone in the community agrees, many autsitic people want neurodivergent people to play characters who are neurodivergent. While a character is just a character, the community feels the best way to get rid of decades of stigma and finally receive accurate representation, neurodivergent people should be the ones playing neurodivergent characters.
When it was announced Sia casted Ziegler as a neurodivergent person, she faced a lot of backlash. She responded to critics on Twitter, often cursing people out or telling them their criticism is misplaced because she did try to cast an autistic actor for the part.
In a response to a Tweet on Nov. 20, 2020, Sia says, “Casting someone at (the character’s) level of functioning was cruel.” She added the actor was stressed on set and had to quit because the job was overwhelming.
Firstly, many felt her attempts to include an autistic actor were minimal. The flashing lights and bright colors that many austic people find to be hard to watch, let alone act in, are found throughout the movie.
Additionally, the support and education services Planning Across the Spectrum says the use of “functioning labels isolate disabled people from their non-disabled peers by implying defectiveness.”
Also, many including @HelenAngel on Twitter replied to Sia saying, “Several autistic actors, including myself… said we could have acted on a short notice. These excuses are just that– excuses.” Sia’s response (instead of apologizing) was, “Maybe you’re just a bad actor.”
Furthermore. Maddie Ziegler uses exaggerated motions often used to mock Autistic people. A page run by austic adults on Twitter titled Autisticats described the acting as, “unsettling, and insincere… and it’s deeply reminiscent of the exaggerated mannerisms non-autistic people often employ when bullying autistic and developmentally disabled people.”
Sia includes a scene in which Ziegler’s character has a breakdown and supporting characters use restraining techniques such as holding her down to the floor to try to stop her. However, the autistic community widely denounces the use of these techniques except as a last resort to help with breakdowns as they could be lethal.
While Sia claims she had done research on the autism spectrum, a group she often discussed with was Autism Speaks. While she claims she did know at the time, Autism Speaks is widely disliked within the Autism community for many reasons.
Autism Speaks focuses on eugenic-like missions to “end autism” and find a “cure.” Instead of researching for improved therapies and advocating for services, they want to find a way to stop autism.
The organization also has a history of using fear-mongering tactics and demonizing autistic people. In their movie Autism Everyday, a mother of autistic and neurotypical children says she thinks about driving off a cliff with her autistic child, but decides not to because she has a neurotypical child.
By educating herself through an ableist organization and insulting the autistic community with her work, Sia’s movie Music should not be celebrated with two Golden Globe nominations. Her insensitivity towards the autistic community does not deserve a reward.