I feel queasy here. I’m actually autistic. Sia took a huge tit on the autistic community this morning, calling us worked up haters and centring it all around how upset she was and how unfair we’re being by telling her what the community thinks. Honestly, good on JM for having a go. Honestly, people should have a right to self-diagnosis autism, too.
But boy oh boy and hey does “describe my particular brand of chaos” rub me the wrong way. Christ. Is she aware non-“famous” people get attacked on Twitter for saying things about autism? Is she aware of how much overall hate and ableism has been on display over the last 24 hours with this bullshit Sia “special abilities” movie? Why she moving the spotlight back to herself? Why delete tweets and then announce it? It doesn’t make sense. She just doubled down on those tweets.
I’m partially non-speaking. I’m some nobody with a few dozen followers on Twitter and even I’m incredibly careful about discussing autism to not centre issues around just my experience. Because I occupy a huge position of privilege within the autistic community. I can write and communicate. I can even speak very well (in short spurts). That is why I’m so keen to listen to others.
Christ, I’m just blown away at this childishness. Autism suits your brand? We can’t question it because it is too like your special, whimsical chaos? I could give a duck whether JM’s actually autistic or not. It’s the way she’s discussing it. As if she isn’t claiming status in a highly marginalized group, with substantial barriers to society, that is constantly being talked over and dismissed. Whatever, the gall, etc. Yikes.