KF587

2018

Music

Michael Jackson is a character portrayed in the 2021 musical drama film, Music, written and directed by Sia. The character is autistic and nonverbal, first appearing early in the film as Zu, the protagonist, finds her alone and seemingly lost in the streets.

The film faced considerable controversy surrounding the casting of Maddie Ziegler, a neurotypical actress, in the role of an autistic individual. Critics argued that the portrayal relied on harmful stereotypes and lacked authenticity due to the absence of autistic representation both on and off-screen. The character of Michael Jackson, renamed to Music after the film's initial backlash, contributed to the widespread criticism of the film's representation of autism.

The character's name and associated issues led to significant discussion about cultural sensitivity and the importance of accurate and respectful representation in media. The controversy prompted Sia to add a disclaimer to the film acknowledging the concerns raised.