The singer-songwriter suffered a massive backlash on her directorial debut.
Sia has said that she entered rehab as a result of the hostile reception to her directorial debut, Music, released in 2021.
In the wake of her choice to put neurotypical actor and dancer Maddie Ziegler in the lead role of Music Gamble, a young girl who was nonverbal and autistic, the singer received a barrage of criticism.
The backlash
The film also garnered criticism for including sequences in which others constrain the protagonist.
Because Ziegler is not on the autism spectrum, Sia's decision to cast her in the film has sparked controversy.
Netizens have launched an online petition attempting to "cancel" the film's premiere.
The boycott is launched because of the "inaccurate and terrible betrayal of the [autistic] community" as scenes were showing the protagonist in constraints.
The backlash against "Music" intensified after it was given two 2021 Golden Globe nods.
Film reviewers similarly criticized Sia's work. Matthew Rozsa of Salon described the film as "a baffling and patronizing cringefest of ableist minstrelsy".
Meanwhile, Joseph Stanichar of Paste noted that, "Even doing research and writing an essay on the film's problematic elements pre-release were not enough to prepare me for how harmful 'Music' is to autistic people."
On casting Ziegler
Initially, Sia defended Ziegler's casting before the film's release, telling Australia's 10 News First that she "actually tried working with a beautiful young girl nonverbal on the spectrum" but "found it unpleasant and stressful" because the character is written as "too demanding."
Music is at the heart of the film's intricate and imaginative dance scenes, which is why Sia decided Ziegler was the best actor for the title character's role.
Ziegler and Sia had previously collaborated on the music videos for the singer's singles "Chandelier" and "Elastic Heart," respectively.
Relapse and rehab
While interviewing for this week's Kathy Griffin feature, Sia admitted to The New York Times that she had been suicidal and had relapsed, prompting her to seek treatment.
Following a dinner at a Hollywood restaurant that Griffin persuaded her to attend last autumn, the artist praised Griffin for aiding her recovery.
Griffin planned the dinner date in advance since she knew that paparazzi would photograph them at the restaurant.
The idea was to produce more positive media coverage months after the incident occurred.
"She saved my life," Sia stated in The New York Times interview.