What’s up? It’s Sussan Mourad here with Clevver News and Sia has spoken out after receiving
criticism for casting non-austistic actress Maddie Ziegler to play a teenager with special needs.
Fans of Sia’s and Maddie’s know they have worked together multiple times
over the past six years ever since Maddie starred in Sia’s Chandelier music video.
And now, Sia just dropped the trailer for her upcoming movie
“Music” starring none other than Maddie Ziegler.
Sia announced this project back in 2015 at the
Venice Film Festival and at the time said Maddie would be starring in it.
Then by 2018, Kate Hudson and Leslie Odom Jr. were set to join Maddie as co-stars.
The film follows Kate’s character, a newly sober drug dealer,
as she finds herself as the sole guardian of her autistic teenage half-sister, Music.
Music is played by Maddie and many people in the autisitic
community have been posting their disappointment that Sia didn’t cast
an austisic actor in this role ever since the film’s trailer dropped on Thursday.
“She can understand everything you are saying to her and if you are happy.
Press this one. I’m sad. Very funny troublemaker. She sees the world in
a completely different way from us.” People were quick to comment on the
trailer sharing their concerns about Maddie’s casting and portrayal of an autistic character.
One person wrote, “Hi Sia, can I ask why you didn't cast a disabled actor for this part?
It's pretty offensive the way you've chosen to portray this character.
People with disabilities are not broken and don't need fixing.”
Another Twitter user chimed in saying “It’s a mighty shame that someone with such a colossal
platform is using it to exclude disabled and neuro diverse actors from their own
narratives. I’ve been a long time fan of your work, so this is really disappointing.”
This person added “Incredibly disappointing to see
yet another misrepresentation of neurodivergent people. What
an incredibly wasted opportunity to showcase autistic talent, and share an authentic story
from that community. Will not be watching this. #WeShallNotBeRemoved #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs”
And this person tweeted saying “this is cripping up and it’s really gross.
if you want to tell stories about disabled people, pay disabled people to tell the story.”
Many wondered why no one who was working on this film stepped up
and said something about this casting, but Sia replied to tons of comments on Twitter,
defending the decision to cast Maddie in this role.
She said that it felt “more compassionate” to use
Maddie and that the character is based on a friend of hers.
Sia tweeted that she originally tried QUOTE “working with a beautiful young girl non verbal
on the spectrum and she found it unpleasant and stressful. So that’s why I cast Maddie.”
Sia added that she specifically never referred
to Music as “disabled” but rather said she has “special abilities.”
Sia said quote, “Casting someone at her level of functioning was cruel, not kind,
so I made the executive decision that we would do our best to lovingly represent the community.”
She went on to say that she and Maddie wouldn’t want anyone to feel like they
were mocking anyone and pleaded with fans to watch the film before they judged it.
Then on Friday morning, Sia took to Twitter to reiterate this sentiment in a frustrated post
writing “Grrrrrrrrrr. Fuckity fuck why don’t you watch my film before you judge it? FURY.”
And the frustration from Sia didn’t stop there.
She also replied to a tweet and explained that she “cast thirteen neuroatypical people, three
trans folk, and not as fucking prostitutes or drug addicts but as doctors, nurses and singers.
Fucking sad nobody’s even seen the dang movie. My heart has always been in the right place.”
She also replied to this fan who wrote “Several autistic actors, myself included, responded to
these tweets. We all said we could have acted in it on short notice. These excuses are just that -
excuses. The fact of the matter is zero effort was made to include anyone who is actually autistic.”
Sia snapped back saying “Maybe you’re just a bad actor.”
Obviously, people have taken issue with some of Sia’s responses,
but she doubled down on her frustration saying that she quote,
“spent three fucking years researching, I think that’s why I’m so fucking bummed.”
“Music” is Sia’s feature directorial debut and the movie is set to come out next year.
Maddie hasn’t posted anything about the film on her social media yet,
but we will keep you guys posted if she speaks out on any of this.
For now, if you want more on Sia, click right over here for another Clevver News video.
Also, let us know down in the comments below what you think of Sia casting Maddie in this role.
I’m your host Sussan Mourad, you can find me on instagram @Sussan_Mourad, bye guys!