I
and how it's being represented to the public,
but there's also a lot of problems in the
like backing up and how the film was made.
The fact that she didn't -- that you didn't apologize.
I just I don't understand how you can defend
this whole situation.
♪ [upbeat]
♪ I'm gonna swing from the chandelier ♪
♪ and I love him so dearly ♪
♪ Rain it falls, rain it falls ♪
♪ Pouring on me ♪
♪ And the rain it pours, rain it pours ♪
♪ ♪
[music box plays]
There is, however, a magical little girl, your sister.
All she's got now is you.
She can understand everything you are saying to her.
And if you are happy, press this one.
[computer] I am sad.
Very funny, troublemaker.
♪ ♪
[shouting]
[knocking]
Hi there.
I don't know what I'm doing.
Music, it's your friend, Ebo.
-I live next door. -Can you move in?
♪ ♪
♪ Give me some Stevie Wonder
Quick, put it on before we go under ♪
♪ I can see the lightning
Coming from your ears, yeah, I see you're frightened ♪
♪ ♪
My name is Aidan. I'm 13. I am an actor.
I also just got accepted into the Art program at Westmount,
which is really exciting.
I'm Paige. I am 20 years old.
I live in a small town in the Kawartha Lakes,
and I'm an autism advocate and activist primarily.
So Sia's releasing a movie about a girl who's autistic.
She taught Maddie, a neurotypical,
how to act autistic for this movie.
Sia, girl, the number one thing we're saying is include us.
Do you know how many autistic actors are out there that would
have played this role perfectly? We're out there.
This whole situation with like Sia and everything, it's
she hasn't apologized. And like...
it's just very frustrating because,
you know the saying, "not about us without us"?
It doesn't make sense how she is defending herself.
She should apologize and realize what she did.
I think it's cruel to talk about people like they're not there
if they're special needs in any capacity.
I've always, I don't know why, but I've always had a thing for
special -- and they're called special abilities now,
not special needs. Um, yeah.
People with special abilities and
also for the caregivers of those people.
I want compassion, really.
I want people to show compassion.
I think that Sia made this movie with autistics in mind
with autistics specifically.
She was the creative designer of this.
She likely has a lot of money to put into this movie.
And I think that the least you could do
is show that autistics deserve to be in the workplace
and can be in the workplace.
And especially if you're Sia making a movie for autistics,
there should be no excuse as to why the main character
isn't autistic.
♪ ♪
It doesn't make me feel good because you need to --
because it's like you weren't able to do it with an actual
special needs actor. You had to use your co-worker, like.
It's like I know you tried. You had someone on set.
But you could have kept trying. You could have kept trying.
I was definitely upset.
Watching Maddie, the way she's moving,
that is how we were mocked and bullied our whole lives.
That is what people in school would do to make fun of us.
And it's worse knowing that
that's not how Maddie authentically acts.
If it were an autistic person,
that's authentic, that's natural.
But when it's Maddie and she's doing that,
I know it's only stereotypical.
And Maddie cannot be autistic and pretend
and get praised for it and get Golden Globe nominations for it
and get all these awards and all this money
and what are autistic people getting?
♪ ♪
That if you're not autistic, but you're writing
a movie or a story about a person who's autistic,
you need to ask yourself why.
Like, of course, representation is important,
but why is this story important to you?
Is it actually for real
because you care about making an accurate portrayal,
or is it so you can make a joke or make quick money?
That is something I definitely
want everyone to take into account.
But also, of course, if you're doing this for
the right reasons, make sure
that you are doing your research.
Make sure you're listening to actual autistic people.
I hope that Sia sees this.
And guys, you can do anything.
You can do anything. You can be an actor.
You can be a gymnastic.
You can be a professional athlete.
You can do anything.