Sia Says She’s On The Autism Spectrum Two Years After Receiving Backlash For Her Film

Sia has announced that she is on the autism spectrum. This comes two years after the release of her directorial film debut, Music, which received backlash for casting neurotypical actor Maddie Ziegler as a teenage girl on the autism spectrum and containing scenes where she is restrained. The National Autistic Society accused Sia of ableism and stated that she should have cast an autistic actor.

“I’m on the spectrum and I’m in recovery,” the Australian singer said during a recent episode of Rob Has a Podcast, a show that breaks down the reality television series Survivor. She later added, “Nobody can ever know you and love you when you’re filled with secrets and living in shame.”

Sia said that before she became “fully” herself in the past two years, she would always have to “put [her] human suit on.”

Shortly after being hit with the initial controversy, Sia responded by saying that the film’s screenplay was inspired by her neuroatypical friend who “found it too stressful being non-verbal, and I made this movie with nothing but love for him and his mother.” She also mentioned that she had cast 13 neuroatypical people in the film.

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Last year, Sia shared that the criticism led her to a mental health relapse. She later credited Kathy Griffin, who faced backlash for sharing pictures of herself holding a model decapitated head of then-President Donald Trump, with helping her manage the public scrutiny.

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