Is Maddie Ziegler racist? Internet slams her for wearing blackface in Sia's 'Music': 'This movie is an insult'

Sia’s new movie 'Music' is already courting controversy. Maddie Ziegler, who is a neurotypical actor and dancer, received intense backlash for playing a young woman with autism. In the latest PR nightmare, Twitter users are now accusing Ziegler of donning blackface for the musical drama. This comes after a clip from the opening scene seemingly shows her wearing makeup to make her skin darker. Ziegler had recently apologized for her past racial insensitivity.

Australian singer-songwriter Sia, whose directorial debut hit the theatres on February 12 stars her goddaughter Ziegler in a prominent role. However, the film soon received hate on social media where users slammed the 44-year-old singer for not roping in an autistic person for the role. The film, which focuses on Music, a teenager with special needs who loves music, is making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

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'I'm not racist, my friends are black kind of energy'

Professional dancer and actress Ziegler has apologized for her "racially insensitive" videos from the past. In a Twitter post, she said that she was "truly sorry" for a few videos from when she was 9 years old. “I thought it was funny to mock people and accents,” read the post. “I’m honestly ashamed and I’m truly sorry for my actions. The decisions I made then are absolutely not decisions I would make today."

However, the Internet took this confession as an ammo and didn't shy away from slamming the 'Dance Moms' star. One tweet said, "maddie ziegler and her sister already have a racist past so i’m not suprised by the blackface. i don’t care how old she was, this is absolutely disgusting. she owes the disabled and black community a big apology." Another Twitter user reposted a tweet of Ziegler's face as an autistic Music, adding, "This thread needs to be read!! I also want to express my horrific confusion bc I literally did not know this was White Maddie Ziegler????? Just overt in your face blackface."

"Like I feel grossed out because this role should’ve gone to someone who actually had it. Just knowing Maddie Ziegler is neurotypical bothers me. It reminds me of white people doing blackface in old movies, portraying stereotypes. Sia forced Maddie to be stereotypical as well," said another. "I’ve just realized it’s Maddie Ziegler in this scene, at first glance I didn’t recognize her at all... This movie is an insult, Sia is racist and ableist tf is wrong with her," a tweet said. "This is some “I’m not racist, my friends are black” kind of energy," said another.

'Sia is going to hell'

Another netizen pointed out all the things wrong with the new movie. "sia music movie opening musical number maddie ziegler in blackface makeup ? voice of sonic hedghehog from sonic movie plays white drug dealer with cornrows ? the movie isnt actually abt the title character at all but abt her stupid irresponsible addict-stereotype sister ???" A Twitter user reposted a clip from the movie, saying: "cw ableism + racism // isnt this blackface as well??? apparently this is maddie ziegler.... sia is going straight to hell."

'Maddie is an adult, should know better'

Some people seemed concerned that Ziegler was a lot more under fire than she should be and said that Sia should face the music instead. "this whole maddie ziegler thing is striking a cord w me bc instead of seeing “i cant believe sia had a 14 yr doing blackface and portraying an autistic person” i’m seeing a lot of “maddie did so and so”," said a tweet. This is factually wrong because Ziegler isn't actually 14. She is 18 years old.

Another tweet said, "sia forced a child actress to wear blackface and perform highly exaggerated and offensive depictions of autistic and in general mentally disabled people until she cried. maddie ziegler is innocent but she will most likely take the brunt of this while sia gets NOTHING back." However, some called the actor out, saying, "ok racist doing black face. You are 18, an adult. You know better. And not ONLY back face you mock and played a Stereotype of an autistic person."

You can watch the full trailer here.