Maddie Ziegler didn’t even want to take the title role in “Music” at first, and she cried and had emotional breakdowns repeatedly when filming because she was afraid that Autistic people would think she was making fun of them. Sia. Basically pressured her into taking the part and going through with it. So on top of everything else, the main actress was manipulated and exploited as well (especially since Maddie was 15 I think when they filmed it). Just gross all around.
It’s true. Fuck Sia. Trash human.
maddie was 14 during filming [x] and sia started planning music around her when she was only 12 (contradicting the claim that she originally tried to hire a neurotypical actor to play the lead). [x] but we really need to talk more about the very intense and dependent relationship sia has with maddie, starting from when sia was 40 and maddie was 12:
sia stated that she “can’t do a project without [maddie]” and “wouldn’t make art if it didn’t include her" [x]
maddie has been said to have slept in sia’s bed on multiple occasions when she was 12 [x]
maddie stated when she was 15 that she “lived with [sia] more than i have with my actual family" [x]
sia has been referring to herself as maddie’s “sister” and “bonus mom” since maddie was 13, and has admitted to having control over maddie’s career, public image, and even her security team [x]
maddie is sia’s employee AND a child. this is not an even power dynamic.
