Image: Youtube

Sia Has Been Called Out For Casting Maddie Ziegler As A Girl With Autism In New Film

Sia has been called out after releasing a teaser from her upcoming film Music. The film sees the artist make her directorial debut, but fans aren’t keen on Maddie Ziegler playing the role of a girl who has autism.

The teaser has seen backlash as people have shown disappointment in Sia casting Maddie Ziegler, who is neurotypical, as a character who has autism.

As one Twitter user, Tome Levi said, “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.”

To which the artist replied, “I cast thirteen neurotypical people, three trans folk, and not as fucking prostitutes or drug addicts but s as doctors, nurses and singers. Fucking sad nobody’s even seen the dang movie. My heart has always been in the right place.”

Sia went on to say, “I actually tried working with a a beautiful young girl non verbal on the spectrum and she found it unpleasant and stressful. So that’s why I cast Maddie.”

To which more Twitter users argued the artist should try and make the set and the actor’s experience more accessible.

Later, Sia tweeted, “Grrrrrrrrrr. Fuckity fuck why don’t you watch my film before you judge it? FURY.”

You can watch the trailer for the film, which stars Kate Hudson below, along with some of the conversation around the film.

Music, a film by Sia - Out Now

Others defended Sia.

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