Sia's Non-Apology After Lashing Out At Autistic Community Is 'Insulting': Advocates

LOADING ERROR LOADING Sia has responded to why she attacked the autism and disability community on Twitter after many had expressed concerns about casting in her upcoming film, “Music.” “Looking back, I should have just shut up; I know that now,” the “Chandelier” singer told the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday. “What I do know is that people functioning at Music’s level can’t get on Twitter and tell me I did a good job either,” Sia told the news outlet. I really just wanted to explain that I had tried all these different options and done my best.” “I haven’t seen any apology from Sia though,” Zoe Gross, director of operations at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, told HuffPost via email. “Including in article.” Gross also said that she finds Sia’s comment that “people functioning at Music’s level can’t get on Twitter and tell me I did a good job” is “particularly concerning.” “First, because the idea of ‘functioning levels’ is an outdated, vague, and derogatory concept that harms people with developmental disabilities, regardless of our support needs,” Gross told HuffPost. “And second, because all kinds of autistic people use social media — nonspeaking autistic people, autistic people with intellectual disabilities, autistic people who can’t live independently and need support with daily tasks — and many of them did speak out about finding Sia’s film offensive and her comments about autistic people insulting.” Disability advocates and autistic people also expressed annoyance over this particular comment as well.