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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is it me or is SIA movie 'Music' depiction of Autism HIGHLY offensive?!

199 replies

Mum2prince · 04/03/2021 19:38

Ive just seen the trailer in YouTube, ive yet to research more about what in earth possesed this woman to cast maddie ziegler a NT person to play the role of a young autistic girl.

I am gobsmacked at all the stereotypes the have used to depict autism and i honestly felt horrible watching it. As someone who was concerned my ds may have asd, this is exactly the type of representation i did not like. Regardless of how much info about asd is out there and the awareness raises, there is still a large group of people who do not fully understand Autism and this movie makes things worse imo.

The icing on the cake is the movie trailer is a sensory overload for me, let alone someone neurodiverse who may want to watch it. Bright colours, flashing lights and breaking out into song regularly. Yikes.

AIBU?

*EDIT - Just watched and interview Sia did and she used offensive words like "low functioning" and even claimed she had an original Autistic girl cast for the role but she couldn't handle it. What?!

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Original poster
Mum2prince · 04/03/2021 19:43

Sorry for typos, my phone screen is cracked.

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FionnulaTheCooler · 04/03/2021 19:49

My friend has an autistic daughter and said the same about the sensory overload, she was considering watching it with her daughter but doesn't think her DD would cope well with that aspect of the film.

Mumofsend · 04/03/2021 19:49

Its really not great but I think anyone viewing it knows that

LegAndSparkle · 04/03/2021 19:50

I haven't watched it so not really sure.

BobGalaxy · 04/03/2021 19:51

I think it's been widely panned for that reason (as well as just being bizarre and crap!)

Kanaloa · 04/03/2021 19:52

I haven’t seen it but I’ve noticed there are hardly any good examples of autistic characters on telly/in books. I never noticed it but since my son was diagnosed it stood out more to me.

MuddleMoo · 04/03/2021 19:53

YANBU

MyLittleOrangutan · 04/03/2021 19:57

I'm autistic, I dont find it offensive. All autisitic people are different, they're depicting one person, I dont expect that autistic person to be exactly like me.

I also dont care they used a neurotypical person, why should only autistic people play autistic people, it's like only gay people playing gay people. It just put them in a box.

It's no more a sensory overload than any other musical film, some autistics like high sensory stuff, not all of us are sensitive to sensory info, some crave it and need it.

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Mum2prince · 04/03/2021 19:58

@Kanaloa it seems from the voting that in somewhat over reacting, but I'm actually really disappointed. Like you said there's never really been positive representation but i just expected better in 2021. How niave of me.. sad really

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TacoLover · 04/03/2021 19:58

www.google.com/amp/s/www.teenvogue.com/story/sia-ableism-maddie-ziegler-music/amp

Thought this article backs up what the OP is saying.

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Mum2prince · 04/03/2021 20:01

@MyLittleOrangutan im glad you dont find it offensive and you make some valid points. I just think that they played up to a stereotype that most people think of when they think of autism. It is a spectrum, some individuals may present in the way if maddie in the movie, most do not. I find it tonedeaf personally

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Sapho47 · 04/03/2021 20:03

@MyLittleOrangutan

I'm autistic, I dont find it offensive. All autisitic people are different, they're depicting one person, I dont expect that autistic person to be exactly like me.

I also dont care they used a neurotypical person, why should only autistic people play autistic people, it's like only gay people playing gay people. It just put them in a box.

It's no more a sensory overload than any other musical film, some autistics like high sensory stuff, not all of us are sensitive to sensory info, some crave it and need it.

The irony of the NT op defaulting to stereotypes while complaining about stereotypes is quite funny
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Mum2prince · 04/03/2021 20:03

@TacoLover thanks for the link

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Carolina24 · 04/03/2021 20:03

There’s a good Instagram account called Autisticats run by autistic people which gives a comprehensive breakdown of why this film is so offensive and derogatory to autistic people. I’m not going to watch it for that reason.

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Mum2prince · 04/03/2021 20:07

@Sapho47 if by defaulting to stereotypes you mean me mentioning the sensory overload, its because it stood out to me right away. It was an observation as I found it unpleasant myself.

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Sapho47 · 04/03/2021 20:08

[quote Mum2prince]@Kanaloa it seems from the voting that in somewhat over reacting, but I'm actually really disappointed. Like you said there's never really been positive representation but i just expected better in 2021. How niave of me.. sad really[/quote]
But you only want autistic people to play autistic people.

So you're always going to be incredibly limited in options. then you attack anyone who actually has an autistic character so they aren't going to use them for anything but a title role, even more limited. Then you're going to complain they act too autistic and don't feather your worries about your DDs future.

You won't have any "positive" autistic roles because you've killed them off before they ever had a chance to exist.

Sapho47 · 04/03/2021 20:09

[quote Mum2prince]@Sapho47 if by defaulting to stereotypes you mean me mentioning the sensory overload, its because it stood out to me right away. It was an observation as I found it unpleasant myself.[/quote]
Yes that is the meaning of stereotype.

ThePontiacBandit · 04/03/2021 20:09

Yes, many people in the Autistic community are furious about this (see pp link, also Agony Autie and Joe James Autistic Awareness and photography for more information). Sia also consulted with Autism Speaks, a highly controversial charity who want to “cure” autism Hmm There’s also use of restraint during meltdowns.
When challenged about how Sia had made the film, how upsetting it is to many people, she stood firm in her choices. She’s since apologised but it’s too little, too late. I am autistic. I won’t be watching.

Branleuse · 04/03/2021 20:13

Id have to watch it to decide, but its 7.99.
Its had a lot of bad publicity tbh, but mostly from people who havent seen it

GreenSlide · 04/03/2021 20:16

@MyLittleOrangutan

I'm autistic, I dont find it offensive. All autisitic people are different, they're depicting one person, I dont expect that autistic person to be exactly like me.

I also dont care they used a neurotypical person, why should only autistic people play autistic people, it's like only gay people playing gay people. It just put them in a box.

It's no more a sensory overload than any other musical film, some autistics like high sensory stuff, not all of us are sensitive to sensory info, some crave it and need it.

I agree with you. Why is a depiction of someone with autism and complex needs automatically negative? People similar to the character Maddie plays do exist, and why shouldn't their story be told? I've only seen the trailer and I'm sure the character could be played with a bit more finesse but then Maddie was only 14 I think when the film was made.

But having said that I haven't seen it and I believe there are multiple other issues with the the film, such as positive portrayal of use of restraint. I'm also not convinced that Sia wanted to cast someone else originally, she's written a film that includes a lot of dance features and it's hard to believe she didn't have Maddie in mind for those. Quite a lot of her work just seems to be a vessel for Maddie to dance through which is a bit weird when you think about it.

itsgettingwierd · 04/03/2021 20:17

Autism is a spectrum.

A film depicting an autism character will only depict that characters experience of autism. The film its self isn't widely off track of how it can manifest in individuals. There's no denying it uses the most recognised stereotype but it's usual for characters to reflect that in films anyway.

It's the same as when films centre around a home sexual lead. It's likely to be a very stereotypical portrayal.

My ds is autistic and neither him not me were offended when we watched the trailer.

We were more offended by the person who started a petition starting they "identified as autistic" what does that mean? Are they autistic (as in medically diagnosed) or just decided that's how they feel?

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Mum2prince · 04/03/2021 20:18

@Sapho47 dont feather my worries? LOL you haven't git a clue what you are talking about. You speak as if you know me? I don't know what gave you the right to tell me about myself but what you said couldn't be further from the truth.

IMO something did not sit right with me and after reading up on the moview the entire thing is a joke. You say u made a stereotype? My mistake, but i am not a celebrity, influencer or movie producer. Im trying my best to educate myself on neurodiversity.

Oh and i don't have a Dd I have a Ds, and the reason most parents worry is to determine Whether their child has asd is to get the best services asap and for that they need to be diagnosed. Stop making assumptions over the keyboard

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MyLittleOrangutan · 04/03/2021 20:19

[quote Mum2prince]@Kanaloa it seems from the voting that in somewhat over reacting, but I'm actually really disappointed. Like you said there's never really been positive representation but i just expected better in 2021. How niave of me.. sad really[/quote]
Why is it not a postive representation? She's happy, and having a positive influence on someone elses life. This is positive.

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Mum2prince · 04/03/2021 20:21

This is a disclaimer, I am sorry if I've offended anyone with the wording if my thread. Its not my intention, my aim is to actually educate myself by hearing others opinions and people who are affected by this first hand.

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Ponoka7 · 04/03/2021 20:22

"But you only want autistic people to play autistic people.

So you're always going to be incredibly limited in options."

Are you? Without thinking I know of four theatre groups, two specifically for young people who have additional needs, but all four have people who have autism in them. All local to me and one group is part of a nation wide project, so that gives lots of options. That could be because my autistic DD went to a SEN school and so I'm aware of what's about.

This film has been universally criticised. It doesn't help young people who have autism, it feeds a stereotype and sets people up with preconceived ideas. My DD's work colleagues were amazed that she went to a SEN school and is autistic, because she was nothing like they expected. She started as a college placement and I'll always be grateful for her manager giving her a chance. It's disappointing because this could have made a positive difference to people's attitude to autism. I like everything else that Sia and Maddy have done, I don't know why this has been got so wrong.