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Oh, yeah... We can not tell our egg donor about our NPD.
Why?
Because she uses the word "narcissist" to describe people she hates. And even if she didn't, she would probably...:
A) Be one of those people who are like "We need to starve narcissists of attention so they can be 'normal'".
B) Call us a Tumblr-brained liar (She has done this before).
Or C) All of the above.
confession but im not in the fandom anymore so take it with a grain of salt
people in 2020-2024 were so ableist with joe bc he's mentally ill. they were saying shit like "he needs us to get better" every time someone pointed out talking to him is a bad idea. and then the same people would say "stop bringing it up he can change & if you see this you might trigger him" in regards to the victims being mentioned.
and then there was that time i got harassed for implying weird bed was about sex because "joe would not do that he's too innocent" like. grown ass serial groomer people were calling innocent because he's schizoprenic and they thought he was quirky when he was 20.
??? they actually said this shit??
Does anyone remember the movie Split (2016) and how the whole premise was just mystifying how alters can sometimes experience physical differences?? Because like... That's not even exclusive to systems, is the thing.
You were sad and suddenly felt too fatigued to do anything?? But now you felt happy and you were able to do more??? WOW, have you considered you have The Beast inside you?????
I wish more people memed on The Beast.
“You people can’t do anything” that’s what a disability is I fear
i saw someone complaining that starflight going blind "didnt fit his character" once ☠️☠️ like. so sorry a disabled character doesnt fit their disability? what?
Music (2021) Review
So last night, I watched the S!a movie with a friend. Someone else was also watching, but we got into an argument early on so she left. Anyways, content warning for ableism, prone restraint, racism, objectification, and overall, just poor writing.
Pre Movie:
I’m watching TS on Tubi, and I already have problems. Despite how the Autistic character is the titular character, the one on the side screen before you play the movie is her sister. Already sidelining the Autistic character (albeit accidentally).
Movie:
“Pineapple Lasagna Productions” WHAT KIND OF NAME IS THAT?
Do we seriously have to see Maddie Ziegler changing her clothes? Wasn’t she a teenager when this was filmed?
“Woah, is that fucking blackface, dude?!” - Party Bro, “A Silly Halloween Special”, Smiling Friends
This is a whole ahh seizure fest. Hooting and hollering, too.
“My body does not control me” AUTISM IS NEUROLOGICAL. YES, PHYSICAL DISABILITY CAN COOCCUR, BUT AUTISM IS NEUROLOGICAL.
This does not feel like I’m watching a high needs Autistic person going about their day, but more like watching Tvent08, and if this movie were a complete comedy, this would’ve been the exact vibe Sia could have went with.
Ok, Music likes dogs. Will we explore that in depth?
Music’s grandma just had a stroke and died.
We get introduced to Music’s sister, Zu. She’s on rehab and slept through her AA meeting.
Why is Tig Notaro here?
Jeez, Zu, let Music watch her show. But I assume the framing is supposed to be “Oh, look how sad it is that Music is nonspeaking.” God forbid she tries some escapism to cope with the death of her grandma.
Okay, this music video is less overstimulating, but still cheesy. Also, that dog costume looks created with paper mache.
Music is stressed because of the fact that her routine is significantly ruined by Zu. We’re supposed to see her as an animal. Maybe the music video in the previous scene should’ve had some grief related stuff for some buildup.
She gets restrained by Ebo, one of her neighbors. He even says that he’s “crushing her with [his] love”. This can injure and even kill the person receiving it, btw.
There is no way that Music just easily recovered from a meltdown induced from a routine disruption, especially after being restrained in that fashion. Usually, meltdowns are traumatic and hard to recover from. And not only that, we don’t learn about her point of view after this event. She’s straight up sidelined for her sister and magical Black boyfriend, Ebo. We’re not supposed to empathize with her, given the shots in the movie. We don’t follow her journey of grief for her former caretaker, who recently died outside of music videos that barely touch upon her grief.
Leslie’s brother died, and he plays it off so casually. Also, “special needs”.
Of course her Asian friend is called some slur, possibly in a foreign language.
“Can’t believe I’m related to these people” ugh.
BEN SCHWARTZ? Why is he wearing cornrows?
What is this improv session? Idgaf that it’s Ben Schwartz, this is supposed to be a serious movie. Could’ve spent that amount of time with an interaction between Music and Felix.
Ain’t Juliette Lewis a Scientologist?
Now, we got Kathy Najimy. Why, Peggy, why?
Why are they forcing Music into a kiddie pool? She’s fully clothed, and she has sweatpants on. At least get her in a bathing suit. It’s giving behaviorism.
Also, no buildup for this MV.
Fuckass choreography.
“Shop at Target” ahh.
What are these costumes?
Music and Felix are at Ebo’s boxing club. Will we see them meaningfully interact? Wait, this scene’s about Ebo teaching Zu how to box. Come on.
What is this Midsommar ass editing?
The way Ebo is talking about her is lowkey giving me the ick. Like, I get she has her limits, but he isn’t talking about her like a person, but moreso a mythical creature.
Music’s overstimulated by the children running past her at the park.
Zu’s restraining Music. This time, in a more deadly position, in which she is tackled face down, where there is a much larger risk of asphyxiation. This is what killed 13 year old Max Benson a year before the trailer dropped.
And Music is just completely fine afterwards. No signs of distress after being overstimulated and tackled to the ground, no introspective on how she feels. It’s just as if it must’ve been the wind or whatever.
Another Zu and Ebo scene which could’ve been spent focusing on how Music is processing everything that happened to her the scene before this.
Fuckass music video again. This time, Zu’s at a table with unusually large clay silverware.
Again, Music is sidelined, turned into Zu and Ebo’s background dancer.
“Maybe I’m just insecure”, fuck off.
“Humans, we’re so insecure”, jeez, on the nose, much?
Even Felix gets an implied motivation (to get Music a service dog). Music gets jackshit compared to this.
Asian stereotypes (strict parents). Should’ve mentioned earlier.
Yet another romantic scene between Zu and Ebo with a piano. Music’s just in the background, yet again.
Another segway into a music video. Honestly, this one should’ve been about Music as well, with her pressing “I am sad” onto her tablet. I wish this movie dug deeper into her emotions and perspective.
Fuckass pants, fuckass choreography, fuckass everything. I cannot take this seriously. It’s giving Bart Baker. How did Leslie Odom Jr. look at this script and this setup and go “Yep, this is definitely gonna boost my career”? Also, there’s some “Holy Bible” on the coffin that I do not understand the significance of.
Of course Zu calls Music’s meltdowns “freak outs”. And we’re supposed to be cool with this.
Why is Sia a drug dealer? And why is her “charitable deed” sending drugs to Haitian kids? I get that they’re pain meds, but like, why this moment? What commentary does this provide? Is this supposed to be brief satire on corrupt individuals? Because this just adds nothing to the movie. This cameo could’ve been cut out in order to develop Music’s character, but no, Sia gotta be self-centered.
Another music video.
What is this fashion? Did they seriously get Maddie Ziegler to wear a paper bag?
Ben Schwartz again, in a kimono too, this time.
Why is Zu wearing that shirt? Millennial core.
There was no buildup for Ebo needing the drugs for his HIV/AIDS. He displays no symptoms, I get that he could’ve been having a day where his symptoms were less prevalent, but after a couple scenes, it just has no significant impact on the plot.
Music eats gum from the bench (presumably for sensory stimuli). I get that it’s gross, but like, there’s a difference between showing a character doing a gross thing and objectifying them for it.
A reminder that Music is allergic to bees. Also, we’re not supposed to emphasize with Music during this, but her sister instead.
Felix is given slightly more character depth than Music.
Music literally almost died, and not only we don’t get her perspective on this, she’s dragged out of the hospital so Zu can look for her drugs.
HENRY ROLLINS?!
What is this fuckass Dr. Giggletouch music while Zu is relapsing?
A heart just appeared on Zu’s back. I guess the heart is supposed to represent the supposed “burden” of loving Music.
Also, why did some old women show up as background dancers for Zu?
Felix buys a service dog off some website, but walks into his parents fighting. Of course they’re arguing in their native language, and switch to English when they have clarity of their son.
Felix is straight up slimed out, because of course the only other nonspeaking character has to die.
Why is there a music video? Why is there a rickshaw? Is it because Felix is Asian?
Finally, she has some emotional depth, but it’s to deal with grief of losing 2 people she was accustomed to and loved, which we barely got to see interacting with her. And we only get one MV showcasing her grief.
Music soils herself due to her grief. However, I feel like we’re supposed to be grossed out because clearly, if you’re incontinent, you might as well be some animal. /s
“I have no one”, Music is right there.
Tf is this symbolic imagery?
Another music video.
More photosensitive seizure risk.
Ben Schwartz comes back yet again.
Music’s about to be institutionalized. This has so much problems. Just give custody to George, he at least somewhat treats her as a human.
“It’s for the best in the long run”. Uh, no?
Music actually gets to do something outside music vids? But it’s for Zu, though.
Zu and Music crash Ebo’s brother’s wedding. And the 2 have this heartfelt moment.
Music harmonizes a little but she’s in the background. It’s not her moment, she only exists to prove to Ebo’s family that Autistic people in fact, ARE humans. Because African people are very ignorant on superior Western civilization. /s
One final music video.
She finally gets a service dog.
Whoever did the choreography and fashion design for this needs to be publicly held accountable, not just for being involved in this garbage, but what in the genuine fuck are those outfits and choreography? Straight to the gallows. Immediately.
Shitass movie finally ended.
There’s a post movie credit scene involving Tig Notaro and that Radgicals show from earlier.
Autism Speaks and the Child Mind Institute are in a special thanks portion.
Here’s some more people in another Special Thanks portion: Spike Jonze, JJ Abrams, Jay Duplass, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Whitney Cummings, Shia Labeouf, Jonah Hill, and Jeff Probst (and his wife).
Conclusion:
This movie was straight ASS.
Plot:
The plot is sometimes confused about itself. One moment, Zu’s having a serious moment, and the next, there’s a big budget music video. Yeah, there’s a B plot involving Felix, but he’s barely onscreen and is dead by the end of the movie. Music’s grandma is straight up forgotten for most of the movie, even though her death is pivotal to the movie’s existence. Also, when there’s points of distress involving Music, the music videos flash on screen for a bit because apparently, Sia saw Midsommar and tried shoehorning in the flashing in a shoddy attempt to signify her turmoil. We’ll get into how Music’s character is treated, but I shall use this to segway into…
Music videos:
Oh my God, they were laughably ridiculous. 2 of them constantly have flashing lights, and the first one in particular is should just have been scrapped entirely, as we could’ve just skipped straight to Music’s routine. I get it’s the introductory song, but did it have be constantly flashing and jumpcutting aggressively? Some of the music videos just come out of nowhere with little significant buildup (I.e “1+1”). And good God, do not get me started on the fashion and choreography. Now, to be fair, the choreographer could probably be Sia’s normal choreographer, but I’m sorry, not only the dancing is constantly just the dancers basically thrusting and waving their hands around (which outside of the MVs, is seen as a bad thing when Music does it, regardless of whether she is harming herself or not), but at times, the choreography does not align with the song. Sia could be performing some trite ballad, and her dancers could just be is heavily energetic all throughout the scene, especially in “Beautiful Things Can Happen”. Also, the fashion. Please, who did the fashion design for this because what the fuck was I looking at? I get they’re supposed to fit the background, but seeing Leslie Odom Jr. in those overalls in “Beautiful Things Can Happen” got me dying laughing. How am I supposed to take this shit seriously if the dancers are given these goofy ass clothes?
Tangent aside, barely any of the music videos strengthen the plot in any manner. “Best Friend” could’ve meaningfully intertwined Music’s special interest in dogs with how she feels about her grandma very recently dying, but both are heavily sidelined for later in the movie. “Could I Love With No Fear” could’ve explored how Music interacts with sensory stimuli (particularly stimuli that brings her satisfaction), but the music video seems more as an excuse for a cheap fashion montage that is lowkey buns. The song, “Music”, somewhat deals with Music’s grief, but when it’s not explored anywhere else in the movie, it feels like Sia remembering that Music could have some grief for her grandma and best friend dying. Personally, the most qualms I have is with “Easy”, which is essentially the song Zu relapses to. At first, I was dying laughing because why are Zu’s backup dancers literal grandmas? Not only did I it seem ridiculous at surface level, but using my context clues and critical thinking, it was quite horrific. Zu was wearing a heart on her back in the music video, and she was being chased by those grandmas. I believe this is supposed to represent the burden of becoming a caregiver, and as much as being a caregiver can be daunting, throughout the movie, Music is already dehumanized, and I feel as through Zu’s relapse and the music video, Music’s Autism is being implicitly blamed for Zu’s relapse, further lionizing her. And a quick note, why was Music put in what looks like to be blackface in “Oh Body”, the literal opening song of the movie? It’s like it was trying to warn me to turn it off. For Sia to label Helen Z, an Autistic actress, as a “bad actor” on Twitter when she has the choreography and Maddie Ziegler’s acting involved is truly astounding.
Characters:
Outside of Music, the characters are just dookie. Zu is a recovering alcoholic and as the half sister and new caregiver to Music, she is given the most depth and character development. Everyone, especially Music, exists for her character. Ebo, in particular, serves as the magical Black boyfriend trope who teaches Zu how to be Music’s caregiver. Either than that, he has a family who is very ignorant on disability (or as he phrases it, “special needs” because of course), and they essentially exist to have their ignorance cleared when Zu and Music crash Ebo’s brother’s wedding and Music sings in front everyone. His brother, who “liked being held” in a position similar to how Music was in the first major meltdown sequence, is literally dead, and he speaks of it so casually. And I’m wondering, “Jee, I wonder why Ebo’s disabled brother is dead”, possibly because someone (either Ebo or another person) restrained him and it didn’t end well that time. Also, he has HIV/AIDS, but it’s only brought up for the plot twist of who Zu was dealing drugs to, and it’s never brought up in any meaningful way ever again. George, who is one of Music’s other neighbors, is weirdly enough, the most likable character in the movie, and that’s because he actually tries to help her when she’s in distress and doesn’t tackle her to the ground. He’s barely in the movie, and yet, he shows up in “Together”, the credits’ music video. Rudy is Zu’s drug dealer who culturally appropriates a bunch of POC stuff, and serves more as an excuse to have Ben Schwartz and Kate Hudson do an improv session in the scene we’re introduced to him. Felix is essentially Music’s only friend outside of her condo, and they only interact in the beginning, the shadow puppet scene, and in the music videos after he dies. Other than that, Felix is nonspeaking and is heavily implied to be Autistic as well. He, unlike Music, at least has an actual motivation: to get Music a service dog. Other than Music, he is also a boxer trying to impress his broken adoptive family because Asian parents are very strict, and to show that, when they speak their native language, it’s only when they’re upset or fighting. /s Anyways, during an argument, Felix’s Dad accidentally kills him and we never hear from the parents again. But hey, at least after this, Felix’s spirit is in a music video. Wait, he gets driven off in a rickshaw with Music’s grandma? That can’t be some unintended racism, can it? Also, Felix’s actor is Latino, but I think the character is supposed to be Asian, so yeah, here’s Sia failing in the racial casting department, too. But speaking of casting departments…
Music:
Music’s character is not only portrayed by Maddie Ziegler (who’s allistic), not only is her high support needs and distress only utilized to see her as a rabid animal, but she is heavily sidelined in what is supposed to be her story. Outside of music videos, I can name some things about Music’s character:
Her special interests are dogs, The Radgicals, and as she is named, music. The dog stuff is only in the beginning of the movie, in the “Best Friend” sequence, and at the end of the movie, when she finally gets her service dog. The Radgicals only show up in 2 scenes (outside of the post credits), and in one of them, it’s just playing in the background of Juliette Lewis’ in universe house. And for someone named Music, outside of the music videos, she’s not seen doing anything music-related until the climax of the movie. Maybe if she was harmonizing in the scene where Zu and Ebo were on the piano, I could excuse it, but she’s just in the background.
She’s friends with Felix. Other than the beginning and the shadow puppet sequence, they never interact in the movie, and even when they do, it’s in music video form because he’s dead. That scene where Ebo is teaching Zu how to box should’ve been spent on Music and Felix interacting, possibly stimming together, which would’ve worked better, especially if both actors had been Autistic.
Because she is minimally speaking, her forms of communication are AAC and echolalia/vocalizaton. The AAC is barely utilized at all, and when it is, it’s mostly reduced for backdrops of everyone else’s emotions. Her echolalia/vocalization, on the other hand, is utilized to portray her as a nuisance, especially when she’s distressed. As someone who is also Autistic and have a tendency to scream when I’m that overstimulated, it’s makes me feel disgusted, and I can only imagine how someone with higher support needs feels. Oh wait, CommunicationFIRST (a group of minimally/nonspeaking individuals who also have high support needs, regardless of disability) actually condemned the movie and made a short film in response to Sia’s team ignoring their critiques called Listen? Color me shocked.
Outside of the music video, the first pivotal moment in the film is when her grandma dies. I get that this is the moment of why Zu has to take care of Music, but we do not really see much of Music’s POV about her primary caregiver dying. Yes, the next morning, her routine is heavily disrupted and she has a meltdown, but afterwards, the grief is ignored for a large part of the movie until Felix dies and we get a music video in which she says goodbye to both of them, and then after that, it’s not touched upon meaningfully ever again in the movie. Her special interests could’ve been utilized as a way to help her deal with the grief of losing 2 beloved people in her life, but hey, she may be the titular character, but she’s not the main one.
Her meltdowns. As an Autistic person who has had meltdowns before, they can be horrific and distressing to endure. The main ones are when her routine is heavily disrupted due to Zu’s usurpation of her caregiver status, getting overstimulated by a group of children in the park, and having an allergic reaction to a bee. The meltdowns aren’t the problem here, in fact, I had a similar experience the year before this post.
- Anecdote Time -
Back when I went to Ontario, Canada in August of 2025, I got overstimulated by a festival next to the Marriott we were staying at. I was crying afterwards, and my family were just like “It’s over, calm down”. That only worsened it and caused an argument between them. The meltdown got to the point where I did present like Music (other than being able to verbalize most of my distress), where I was screaming, hitting myself, and even trying to attack my grandma. The reason it got to that point was because my family saw me being overstimulated (due to sensory issues that they knew about) as me being trivial because it was over something they considered fun.
- End of Anecdote -
And yes, while Music seemed to be much more easily overstimulated than I was, compared to her, my family’s dismissal of such a horrific event seemed more like comfort because she was straight up tackled to the ground. Twice. And given the framing of the movie, we’re not supposed to empathize with her, we’re supposed to see her as a liability on Zu and Ebo, and her meltdowns (as in most media involving Autistic characters) were utilized to do that, regardless of the distress she was in. Plus, after the restraints, she seemed completely fine afterwards. Now, not everyone emotes like me, but given where her emotional breakdowns stemmed from, and the fact she was restrained in such a manner as seen in the movie, she should have at least been seen still sobbing quietly afterwards given the stress she went through. But that would have humanized her too much in Sia’s mind, so not only she seems completely fine afterwards, her thoughts on this are not touched upon. She’s written like an object, who may show emotions, but not any that require any nuance, subtlety, meaningful substance, or introspection. Her disability and the traits she exhibits are used to objectify her. We’re not supposed to empathize with her going through such a distressing time, that’s supposed to be for Zu and Ebo, for having to “deal with her”. And the fact that the guy selling snow cones bows to Zu with respect after she restrained Music, drives that exact point home.
Also, prone restraint kills, some of the songs’ lyrics are very on the nose (“Humans, we’re so insecure”), Autism Speaks sucks (plenty of other Autistic people have explained this better than me before), and every willing adult involved in this movie either needs to release a sincere public apology to the Autistic community and/or communities of color, or for Kate, Leslie, and especially, Sia, need to have a significant dent in their careers. This is why you should have Autistic actors, Autistic set designers, Autistic writers, and Autistic consultants, especially those of higher support needs. This is why tropes have potential to feed into death and even already have. We lost and traumatized people, partly due to these tropes. This movie believes that mere tolerance is blazing love, and that lethal methods of “assisting” meltdowns are actually helpful, and only causes harm if the recipient resists. Because in this world, Music is “too Autistic” to be a fully fleshed character, she’s “too Autistic” for introspection, complexity, and character growth, and most importantly, she’s “too Autistic” for human dignity and respect. This movie happened because Sia and children’s author Dallas Clayton wanted to give Maddie Ziegler some work outside of her music videos and Dance Moms. The movie was also allegedly trying to function as a pitch pilot for The Radgicals, and yet, as mentioned before, it’s barely in the movie and mostly relegated to a post credit scene. Either way, knowing that Sia was diagnosed as Autistic 2 years after the movie dropped, this functions as not only lateral ableism, but had this been made after her diagnosis instead, it would’ve functioned as Aspie Saviorism on Sia’s part. If you want to watch something better, go watch Loop (a Pixar short starring Madison Bandy as a nonspeaking Autistic girl on a canoe ride) or Listen by CommunicationFIRST. And to Beyoncé, if by an off chance she comes across this, please, stop hanging with Ivanka and Jared and buy some high maximum security for that basement, and banish Sia into it so she never comes out with straight bullshit ever in anyone’s lifespan again.
Aspie Saviorism is where low needs Autistic people think they’re doing medium/high needs Autistic people a favor, even when it causes harm. This can range from “Look at me hanging with this pathetic individual, aren’t I charitable?” Up to “Well, those type of Autistic people need to be treated like cattle, it’s for their own good.” I know my description is extremely simplified, but either way, please listen to medium/high needs Autistic people and consult them on stuff that involves them. Thank you.
Slowly being more open on my insta… debating putting “partial posic+” in my bio. I put median in there so I feel like I also wanna add the posic+. But I think back to how my friend said “I’ll let you believe in your delusions” when I was playing with my care bear. like how could I now ever admit I fully believe my plushies have feelings, identities, and (for some of them) have thoughts. But my insta account I post about me, my plushies, and my cats. So it feels fitting to add the partial posic+ to the description.
The recent ableism in the fandom has made me so uncomfortable especially cuz I myself am disabled and this game is a huge comfort and interest for me. Imma say this too as a huge warden fan: you should be disliking Otto for valid reasons like his n4zism or his abuse of Arora, not the fact that he's disabled what is wrong w people. The fact that his disability is what people are using and not the literal contents of his character is fucking sickening
I will politely warn against tiktok speak with the term nazism as it makes it harder for people who have the term blacklisted to avoid posts and mentions of it for future reference
