Earlier this year, singer and songwriter Sia made her directorial debut with the release of the movie “Music,” which attempts to portray Maddie Ziegler as the titular character on the autism spectrum. Variety Magazine described “Music” as “an exceptional film with heart at its core,” but I do not think that ‘heart’ is what is at the core of this film. Instead, this film is steeped in ableism rather than in good intentions.
The National Autism Association called the characterization of autism spectrum disorders as “dangerous and abusive” in response to the use of restraints and seclusion towards the titular character. The presence of restraints in the film are not the only scenes that can trigger viewers who are on the autism spectrum.
Sia wrote, “I cast 13 neuroatypical people, three trans folk, and not as prostitutes or drug addicts, but as doctors, nurses and singers. It’s sad nobody’s even seen the dang movie. My heart has always been in the right place.”
Clearly, this comment and her other comments in regard to this film show that her heart is not in the right place. Sia can claim that her heart was in the right place the whole time, but this movie was not made with the best interests in mind for neurodivergent communities. Otherwise, Sia would have cast a neurodivergent actress as the titular character and would not have modeled the character after stereotypes of people on the autism spectrum.
Ziegler’s character is essentially a parody of autism and serves as nothing more than fodder for her neurotypical sister to feel better about herself. Sia’s characterization treats people with autism spectrum disorder as accessories for neurotypical people rather than as people. Sia’s heart clearly was not in the right place when she refused to heed the advice of consultants that had actual experience with neurodivergent individuals. Instead, she kept her infantilized view of autism.
Now, I do not blame Ziegler for this portrayal. Ziegler was 14 when this movie was filmed.
According to the Autisticats, an autism advocacy group, “I also want to emphasize that, while I mention Ziegler frequently in this post because she is the actress portraying the autistic character, this whole fiasco is not her fault. She was only 14 at the time that filming began. The blame lies with Sia and the other members of this project who did not stop this before it got out of hand.”
Despite having multiple actors on the autism spectrum audition for the titular role, Sia instead went with casting neurotypical Ziegler in a mockery of the autism spectrum that Sia has created.
This movie never should have been made in the first place. Sia has no idea what neurodivergent communities go through. She should leave this subject to neurodivergent writers, directors and actors.
