Singer Sia reveals she's on the autism spectrum
"Only in the last two years have I become fully, fully myself," says Sia.
Australian singer Sia has revealed for the first time that she is on the autism spectrum.
The 47-year-old made the revelation during an appearance on 'Rob Has a Podcast'. She was a surprise guest on an episode featuring 'Survivor 44' star Carolyn Wiger.
Sia announced on the episode that she was giving Carolyn - a drug counsellor - and her eight-year-old son $100,000.
"I know that you've been struggling and I love you," said Sia - who is a big 'Survivor' fan.
During the airing of season 44 of 'Survivor' in America, many viewers questioned if Carolyn was on drugs or had autism based on her personality and behaviour on the reality show.
According to Mayo Clinic, "autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication".
Carolyn denied that she is on drugs in a post she shared on Instagram, saying she has been sober since 2009. She also dismissed claims that she has autism.
"No, and why is it that we have to diagnose somebody who is different? But if you do want to diagnose me with something, you can diagnose me with ADHD because that’s what I have.”
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The 'Chandelier' singer, who has battled with her sobriety in the past, told Carolyn and Rob about her Autism diagnosis while praising Carolyn for being her authentic self on the show.
"I hope that you know how good you are and how much I think you've changed a lot of people's way of relating in the world. I'm on the spectrum and I'm in recovery - there's a lot of things," Sia said.
The 'Unstoppable' hitmaker added: "Being in recovery and also knowing about which neuroatypicality you might have or might not have, I think one of the greatest things is that nobody can ever know you and love you when you are filled with secrets and living in shame."
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Sia also noted that sharing your struggles can have a positive impact on how you see yourself.
"When we finally sit in a room full of strangers and tell them our deepest, darkest, most shameful secrets and everybody laughs along with us - and we don't feel like pieces of trash for the first time in our lives and we feel seen for the first time in our lives for who we actually are - we can start going into the world just operating as humans," Sia said.
The Grammy Award winner said she loves that Carolyn didn't have to put her "human suit on" to fit in.
"I felt like for 45 years, I was like … I've got to go put my human suit on and only in the last two years have I become fully, fully myself," Sia said on the podcast.
Other celebrities on the autism spectrum include billionaire Elon Musk and rapper Eminem - who reportedly has “high functioning” Asperger's syndrome.
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Sia's autism revelation comes two years after she was criticised for her film, 'Music'. The movie starred Kate Hudson as a recovering drug dealer named Zu and Maddie Ziegler as a girl named Music Gamble, who was on the autism spectrum.
Sia produced, directed, and co-wrote the screenplay. Her efforts were widely panned by critics and viewers who felt the movie was "offensive in its depiction of autism".
Sia's directorial debut went on to win several Razzies, including 'Worst Director'.
Kate won 'Worst Actress', while Maddie was named 'Worst Supporting Actress'!
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https://www.ecr.co.za/news/entertainment/little-mermaid-hit-review-bombing-campaign/
Main image credit: Instagram/@siamusic
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