The “Chandelier” singer appeared on Australia’s “The Sunday Project” to explain the reason behind her casting choice. Ziegler will play Music, a teenager with autism who ends up living with her drug dealer sister, Zu, played by Kate Hudson.
“I realized it wasn’t canism, I mean, it’s also nepotism, but it’s actually nepotism because I can’t do a project without it. I don’t want to. I wouldn’t do art if I don’t include it,” said Sia.
The singer faced reaction from the autistic community, with people saying that she should have casted someone who really had the autism spectrum, rather than Ziegler, who appeared in Sia’s music videos.
Ziegler was apprehensive about removing the paper, Sia added, but said he nailed the paper in the trials, according to medical experts.
“She cried on the first day of rehearsals and was very scared and said, ‘I don’t want anyone to think I’m making fun of them.’ I boldly said, ‘I won’t let that happen,’ “said Sia.
“Last week, I realized that I couldn’t really protect her from that, which I thought I could,” added Sia. “We sent it to the Child Mind Institute and it received 100% performance accuracy. I realize that there are some things that I can’t protect as much as I try.”