Thread by @rollwthepunches

Just some of the manyyyyy inconsistencies in Sia's abysmal story.

*was researching for 3 YEARS*
*somehow never knew Autism $peaks is a hate group*
*turns out she DID know they were horrid awhile ago*

But also, A$ didn't come on-board for 4yrs after the 3yr research began? Wut?

*claims she tried a FEW autistic actors, but some phantom overhead suggested she use Maddie*

*jk they tried one non-verbal autistic girl, she didn't cope well, so Sia herself picked Maddie*

....or was it her autistic friend who found the shoot to be too stressful and overwhelming? The world may never know.

But in either case, she both repeats that SHE ALONE made the call to use Maddie (out of compassion), and NOT some mysterious "they" who said to after trying others.

On that note, she also repeatedly stresses it was ONE non-verbal actress. Not "a few" like originally claimed.

She also claims she had TWO autistic folks advising her at all times, but cast 13 other autistic actors. Why not let some of them advise you with their lived experience, too?

Or even try out for the role of Music?

Or tell you Autism $peaks is bad?

On the topic of her "heart always being in the right place", this "doing more good than harm", "a love letter to this underrepresented community" and the insistence on having only the BEST of intentions...?

Here's how she rly treats #ActuallyAustistic people, in the same breath:

Post Note:
Oh. Wait. She wrote this FOR Maddie. So, she's either lying now, or was back then.

Closed captions in next tweet.

https://twitter.com/todays_dreamer/status/1329847720354476035?s=19

Sia: Now, I've actually written a movie for her, so, she's done with the music videos, so... She was part of a trilogy, so now we're moving on to...idk what next! I-- haven't-- really decided.

Interviewer interrupts: You- you've written a movie script?

Sia: YES!

Ew. She also was encouraged to make this movie bc WHO encouraged her to????

Lena fcking Dunham.

The worst EDS 'face' we have, overall genuine horrid human, and who hurts everything she touches - including her sister.

There is no bottom.

(Cite: Zach Sang interview)

Okay fck this
Maddie was deeply upset about this from go. Didn't want anyone to think she was making fun of them or doing something wrong. Cried to 2 adults, who told her they'd NEVER let that happen bc they knew it was okay.

She tried to tell you.

But you "made this for her".

So, you write a movie for her, as her mother since she was 11 (her words), have PROMISED to protect her...

And when she expresses concern, says it doesn't feel right, you ignore it and convince her it's amazing and good. She can't say no. Manipulated the girl to repeat garbage.

Welp, case closed.

Not that we needed any more evidence, but Sia 100% only ever wrote and cast this role for Maddie.

I highly doubt any autistic girl was ever brought in at all -- except maaaaybe once Maddie broke down on set bc it felt wrong. Which, Sia knew was wrong, too.

So, not only did she write an ableist script overall, repeatedly use ableist language discussing it/us, attack and swear at #ActuallyAutistic folks, work with a hate org, annnnnd lie about 6 different times yesterday...

But she manipulated, neglected and hurt Maddie, too.

She wrote this script 5 yrs ago, when Maddie was newly 13. Maddie knew it was in the works since then. And as she grew up and learnt this could hurt people, sharing her heart was ignored and brainwashed away.

And she can't say no or truly feel safe to leave now. Not after 5yrs.

All M's thoughts on disability, inspiration p-rn, caregivers, autism, developmental disabilities, parents' exploitation of their kids, etc was informed by Sia, for yrs, beginning at 13.

And as Sia always does, Maddie was used as a mouthpiece to regurgitate these ideas to media.

She can't defend herself against her literal godmother as she gets so much backlash from very hurt #ActuallyAutistic folks. For something she knew in her gut wasnt right. Where's Sia?

Not protecting her. She's fighting, shaming & insulting disabled folks; a firehouse of ableism.

And now I'm sure Maddie - the more favourable of them - will be expected to make a statement supporting Sia, reimpress her good intentions, say how beautiful it is & encourage people to see it before judging.

It's predictable. And Maddie's hands are tied. Bc toxic relationships.

Last thing I'll say

For those wanting to better understand Sia training Maddie to look/act/move exactly her autistic friend, Stevie -- learn and mimic his physicality, as taught by her.

As well as her relationship to the man the character is based on, and how Sia identifies.

Some troubling things to note, w/o doing 5 tweets per issue:

- Did Stevie consent to you telling the world he was in AA? It *is* anonymous.
- Doesn't sound as close of a friendship as her tweets made it sound
- "Tics". Do you mean stims? Or does he have another disability too?

- The concept of a 100% "convincing" performance of disability
- Relating her EDS/chronic pain etc with non-verbal autism
- All discussion of Stevie is past tense. "Loved him" "Was a friend" Was he not the one consulted or training Maddie how to behave just like him?

- The film being about "freedom from your body". That's awfully inspiration p-rny, and autism is a developmental disability; you can't escape it without losing you. Unless, again, she's to be physically disabled as well. Which...

Many other things but those are the highlights.

I've said it before and I'll end the thread on this note:

You cannot ACT disabled. Your body either does those things or it doesn't. It's not an emotion, an essence, a character, or a feeling to convey. Acting is for THOSE things.

You don't act out a disability. That's mimicry.