Could Kate Hudson be canceled?
The lovable actress has, of late, been catching condemnation on social media.
Amid 2021’s early movie releases, the world recently welcomed Music, directed and co-written by pop star Sia.
Though for some, “welcomed” may be overstating it.
As reported by USA Today, the film has “[angered] the autism community.”
Here’s the 411 (my addition in bold):
[Music] has outraged the autism community, for both the casting of a neurotypical actress in the role of an autistic character as well as for showing scenes where the character is being restrained. And the criticisms don’t end there.
In the film (now streaming), Music (played by Maddie Ziegler) is a young autistic woman who falls under the care of her half-sister Zu (Kate Hudson) after her grandmother dies (Mary Kay Place). Zu learns all about Music’s daily routine with the help of Music’s neighbor Ebo (Leslie Odom Jr.) – and the movie becomes more problematic from there, according to advocates.
The movie depicts Music being restrained (by Kate) as a means to calm her down – something the community has condemned.
“The autistic community has been fighting for decades to end the use of restraints that traumatize and kill,” said Zoe Gross, director of advocacy at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, in a statement. “Had the filmmakers chosen to meaningfully involve autistic people from the beginning, we could have told them how catastrophically irresponsible it is to encourage viewers to use the kind of deadly restraints that killed Max Benson, Eric Parsa, and many other members of our community.”
The Color of Autism Foundation Founder Camille Proctor was upset by what she felt was a cartoonish performance:
“I don’t even know where to start. I don’t like the portrayal of the young autistic woman. I feel like (Ziegler) was doing parody.”
Here’s the project’s trailer:
Clearly, those who love someone with autism have every right to be upset.
Here’s a question: Might a mob have arisen beyond those justly jarred?
Maybe.
The criticism crowding social media: The movie is “ableist.”
Outstanding outrage continued during Sunday’s Golden Globes.
People were angry at Kate, who was up for an award.
As noted by the New York Post, during the broadcast, co-host Tina Fey joked the star’s involvement in the movie is now the “most offensive casting since Kate Hudson was the Weight Watchers spokesperson.“
The Golden Globes Instagram account posted a photo of the actress in honor of her nomination, and the comments weren’t kind:
“Hollywood: Oooh, let’s support ableism now.”
“Not her.”
“Oh how [very] ableist of the academy.”
“The current face of ableism.”
“This film shouldn’t even be included.”
“Stop giving clout to this movie.”
“You will not get away with this.”
At least one user called to hate:
“Disgusting how you are celebrating this film like it isn’t a collaboration with a disability hate group. This film is promoting restraining autistic kids (the same restraint that killed George Floyd). Stop celebrating ableism and have a bit of compassion. Disgusting behavior.”
The backlash, by the way, has been so fierce, writer/director Sia deleted her Twitter account.
Outrage is real, and so is the mob.
As covered by RedState’s Mike Miller, Bill Maher recently canned cancel culture:
“Cancel culture is real, it’s insane, and it’s growing exponentially, and it’s coming to a neighborhood near you.”
Bill Maher: "Cancel culture is real, it’s insane, and it’s growing exponentially, and it’s coming to a neighborhood near you.” https://t.co/7ZjI6QBFjv
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) February 27, 2021
It can happen to anyone, even to the Left of the middle.
And make no mistake — Kate errs on the progressive side of things.
Back in 2019, she announced she was raising her daughter “genderless”:
“It doesn’t really change my approach, but there’s definitely a difference. I think you just raise your kids individually regardless – like a genderless [approach]”
Because:
“We still don’t know what she’s going to identify as.”
Still, it seems in the case of Music, it’s a tough crowd.
And some folks are flunking the film for tone-deafness.
Nonetheless, per the Post, Kate continues.
Hudson still appeared on the telecast. She told preshow host Jane Lynch that she loved making the movie.
“As an actress and a singer and a dancer, it’s everything you’d want to experience,” Hudson said.
Maybe it is. But the mob — if they come — surely isn’t.
-ALEX
See more pieces from me:
Never Thought We’d See the Day: A Southern State Legalizes Marijuana
University Teaches Pulverized Pupils to Rumble With Racism – by Taking Naps
Find all my RedState work here.
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