#ActuallyAutistic people are criticizing it because you didn’t do anything that represents their community; you co-opted a narrative in a way that infantilizes and glorifies autism and hired a NT actress to play the part. Having EDS doesn’t mean you understand autistic people. https://twitter.com/sia/status/1329737397190451201

This would be like me saying that because I have hypermobility syndrome I understand what it’s like to live with schizophrenia. I don’t. These are two entirely different narratives (though I’m sure that in some they overlap, just an example).

You didn’t consult with autistic people in creating this, either. And again, you hired an allistic actress. Maddie Ziegler is a fantastic dancer, but that’s not what this needs. This needs autistic voices, and that means an autistic actress.

This dismissal of people being pissed that you co-opted a narrative like this for your art and are already judging it is extremely childish. People are angry because it’s insulting to repeatedly see disabled stories like this - this glorified “look how special you are!”

The world doesn’t accept a lot of neurodivergency. We’re a long way from real autism acceptance - a lot of people still think there’s a cure or it comes from vaccines (thoroughly disproven). And stuff like this? It doesn’t help.

Ooph and I just saw that you worked with Autism Speaks. That takes the cake. Every decision you made here was not in the interest of autistic people, and now you’re responding to that justified criticism with “grrrr”.

Listen to autistic people . Take a step back. Examine your ego. Listen to the people whose story you claim you’re trying to tell.

Apparently 3 years of research went into this and not once did Sia notice autistic people talking about how awful Autism Speaks is?? How

I understand that not all #ActuallyAutistic people have a problem with this (from replies to this) but the majority do, and I believe they have good reason to.

Also in response to “she’s just telling a story she’s an artist” https://twitter.com/scretladyspider/status/1329810966318559233