Sia opens up about lashing out on Twitter

[Jill 30,261]

Sia Furler, the Australian singer and songwriter behind some of the most catchy pop songs of our time, usually keeps to a simple rule: “I don’t do anything emotional past midnight.”

But when the nine-time Grammy Award nominee was criticised for the representation of disability in her debut film Music, a musical drama about an autistic teenager to be released early next year, she faltered.

“Looking back, I should have just shut up; I know that now,” says LA-based Furler.

“It was three in the morning, and even though I have a rule that I don’t do anything emotional past midnight, I f---ed up this time.”

When a trailer of the film was released last month, disability advocates criticised Furler for casting Maddie Ziegler, an actor without a disability, in the role of Music, a character who has autism. Kate Hudson plays Zu, a reformed drug addict who suddenly finds herself taking care of Music, her half-sister.

In a series of tweets, Furler defended casting Ziegler and urged her critics to see the film first.

Furler says one of the reasons the criticisms affected her was because of her protectiveness of Ziegler, who came into the public eye when she was eight as a public stand-in for the pop star. Ziegler has since been Furler’s substitute on stage, in live performances, and in her video clips.

“Maddie is the reason the Twitter comments profoundly affected me,” Furler says. “She had researched her role for two years, we watched movies together, and I taught her the nuances and ticks I had observed from [a] friend [with autism]. We did this in the most sensitive and respectful way. She was worried people would make fun of her. I promised her I wouldn’t let that happen.”

Furler, who has previously spoken about her drug and alcohol addictions, says she was inspired to make the movie after she met a 16-year-old named Stevie, whose mother worked at her Sunday morning AA meeting.

“Stevie used to sit next to me in the front row at my AA meetings. He was low-functioning and on the spectrum with echolalia; he’s the reason I wanted to make this movie,” Furler says.

Read more: https://amp.smh.com.au/culture/music/sia-opens-up-about-lashing-out-on-twitter-to-defend-her-new-film-20201215-p56nqn.html

[Jill 30,261]

Note this article says Maddie was eight when she started working with Sia. This is not true as she was like 11 or so I think.

[MessyTop 14,389]

Still doesn’t make it right. She can research all she wants for the role, it dont matter. She already offended so many folk 

[weed 73,967]

2 years of trying to learn how to act autistic somehow rubs me the wrong way... ofc she should study for the role but that’s a lot of time that could’ve gone to scouting someone? Idk

[MessyTop 14,389]

1 minute ago, weed said:

2 years of trying to learn how to act autistic somehow rubs me the wrong way... ofc she should study for the role but that’s a lot of time that could’ve gone to scouting someone? Idk

Exactly. There’s tons and tons of profesional autistic actors. 

[REALITY 76,990]

3 minutes ago, weed said:

2 years of trying to learn how to act autistic somehow rubs me the wrong way... ofc she should study for the role but that’s a lot of time that could’ve gone to scouting someone? Idk

I agree about the scouting part, but I don't see a problem with her researching. Isn't that what people always complain about anyway with these sorts of controversies? People always say, "They didn't do their research! They're ignorant to what the real issues are!". Well, Sia did do her research and she did get permission from her autistic friends, so I personally don't see what the problem is.

[vanna shintuyu 10,824]

What kind of Gremlins nonsense lol

 

Can she not get wet either?

[dove 532]

I thought people were overreacting because I hadn't seen the trailer but omg... I just watched it and  I felt so uncomfortable.

[weed 73,967]

25 minutes ago, M Monstre said:

I agree about the scouting part, but I don't see a problem with her researching. Isn't that what people always complain about anyway with these sorts of controversies? People always say, "They didn't do their research! They're ignorant to what the real issues are!". Well, Sia did do her research and she did get permission from her autistic friends, so I personally don't see what the problem is.

I don’t have a problem with Maddie doing research or even Maddie at all, but giving the role to her 2+ years ago and she still had the audacity to say “maybe you’re just not a good actor” to an autistic actor who spoke out about it, which to me relates in that she didn’t even look for other talent and instead just gave Maddie a new project. She didn’t want an autistic actor, but only someone to act like one? Idk... just thoughts lol. 

[Anderson123 38,537]

Meh I'm still with her on this, she has explained herself so many times, people need to f off and give her a break. I can understand why she just responded that way on Twitter at 3 am, it can get exhausting dealing with people online.

[Bonkers 29,588]

it's never worth trying to defend anything because it always makes it worse.  You have to apologize and move on.  Especially if you don't mean it.

[djBuffoon 12,123]

1 hour ago, weed said:

2 years of trying to learn how to act autistic somehow rubs me the wrong way... ofc she should study for the role but that’s a lot of time that could’ve gone to scouting someone? Idk

Exactly. 
 

As for Maddie, or any actor worth their salt, if you’re worried people will make fun of you for a certain performance, perhaps find another role. 

[PunkTheFunk 124,471]

1 hour ago, Jill said:

I taught her the nuances and ticks I had observed from [a] friend [with autism].

Why does this sound so cringeworthy 

[RAMROD 109,724]

Gurlll, her mouth is foaming and yet most of us still won't buy any of it. Poor ha. 

[vanna shintuyu 10,824]

11 minutes ago, PunkTheFunk said:

Why does this sound so cringeworthy 

Because it is