Denis Leary Calls Out Autism Parents; Will You Join the Fray?
Thursday October 16, 2008
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"I'll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out. That's what autism is. What do you mean they scream and they're silent? They don't have a father around to tell them, 'Don't act like a moron. You'll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don't sit there crying and screaming, idiot.' "True, Savage lost some advertisers, but as the credit card ads say - "ads? $5,000. publicity all over the net and on primetime TV? priceless!"
Now, Denis Leary is tapping the same keg - and while I had hoped to avoid blogging on the subject, I was surprised this morning by seeing mention of Leary's ridiculous rants front and center on - AOL! AOL is nothing if not mainstream, so it seems that Mr. Leary has already succeeded in making a nickel off the backs of frustrated autism parents. Here's what he has to say (through the eyes of the Huffington Post):
In his new book, "Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid," the joke-slinging "Rescue Me" star writes about the brain disorder: "There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their dumb-ass kids can't compete academically, so they throw money into the happy laps of shrinks . . . to get back diagnoses that help explain away the deficiencies of their junior morons. I don't give a [bleep] what these crackerjack whack jobs tell you - yer kid is NOT autistic. He's just stupid. Or lazy. Or both."Autism Speaks has already run a response, which seems to me to be measured and appropriate:
We are deeply disappointed that television personality Denis Leary would misuse his celebrity, compromise his reputation, and exploit the real challenges of individuals with autism in making his recent extremely disrespectful and hurtful comments. His words reflect a complete ignorance of and lack of sensitivity to the true plight of families facing autism. Autism is not a joke. It is very real, especially to the families and caregivers whose lives are forever changed when their loved one receives an autism diagnosis. Autism is recognized globally as an urgent healthcare crisis. Unfortunately, in a country built on the tenets of freedom of speech, sometimes people with access to the media are able to spread harmful mistruths. ...Of course, this measured response isn't what Leary's looking for. By directly insulting US, the autism moms and dads, and suggesting that our kids are, in fact, lazy and stupid, he's appealing to our lowest instincts. What he wants is a good, solid, knock down drag out fight. Preferably in front of plenty of TV cameras, face to face with Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey - so the story will be presented front and center on every TV station in America.
What worries me is this: Denis Leary may get precisely what he wants.
Comments
Sounds like when ADD/ADHD was in the news as much as Autism is now…there were a phenominal amount of skeptics then too, denying that ADD/ADHD was real.
I would love to have any of these nay-sayers come and spendeven 15 minutes with my son and say Autism doesn’t exist, that my kid is lazy, stupid or both, or about our parenting techniques.
Caroline
If Denis Leary could see the world through an autistic childs eyes for just one day he would see a very simple, pure and loving world; a world without cruel words. I’m just glad my son can’t read and doesn’t watch the news because of people like Denis Leary.
Leary is an idiot, simply put, a real idiot.
I hope this new trend of bashing children with autism just to get free publicity goes out of style soon.
It is interesting that Leary would choose to use the word “stupid” when describing our kids. Perhaps, he is merely attempting to deflect attention from his own intellectual challenges.
I don’t myself really understand why people give such things the time of day. Just look at the sources they come from. The only real time someone actually listens to what they say, is when they say something as such, otherwise does anyone really care who Leary even is? I didn’t even know who Savage was until he opened his big mouth. He’s a has-been trying to revibe his career, using isues to get there.
Nothing these people say will do too much damage, not when so many MORE of us are doing so much good when it comes to awareness.
I would like to see these so called men, stand up and spout this crap, in front of real parents that have an autistic child. What a bunch of cowards using these children as a promotional tool.
Part of what I wrote in my own blog yesterday was to the effect that Dennis Leary can say whatever he likes about us as parents. We know its not true and we can defend ourselves. Unfortunately, Mr. Leary is voicing his opinions on a group of children who most often do not have a voice of their own. I find it ironic that the Good Lord wasted the ability to communicate on the likes of Dennis Leary and Michael Savage, yet saw it fit to take that voice away from children like my son.
The rest wasn’t as nice! perhaps his book shouldn’t have been title “Why we suck” bu tinstead “Why I suck”
I’m just saying!
Denis who? Some comedian nobody ever heard of trying to get some free publicity.And AOL gave it to him- guess we know who’s stupid. Why pay attention to him? I would guess he hasn’t HAD a career but is hoping this will get him one. I don’t care what he thinks as he is nobody to me. Somehow I doubt he got a Watson Fellowship, was a Rhodes Scholar, etc….I doubt he even wrote his book- probably ghostwritten for him.
I have to agree with ‘he’s an idiot, plan and simple’.
Sure, and this is the kind of guy who would protest vigorously if a family with an autistic child was sitting across the airplane aisle from him, even if the child was not misbehaving, just vocalizing, bouncing, etc. Too bad it would probably hurt the kids to have a group party in his yard. JERK should be an official diagnosis, probably incurable
Sad at it is, this ignorant actor most likely has not been a caretaker of a child with autism. He like so many others judge before they really (I mean REALLY) have a first hand experience at what they are blabbing to the press because they think they know something on a subject. He sickens me with his lack of sensitivity to the parents who have a child with special needs who have never been able to go out because there isn’t a person who can take care of the child, or that their child may not have friends, or can’t function in a setting other than their home or Special Education class. Denis Leary needs to volunteer in a supervised Special Needs program. I will accept his public apology for his ignorant remarks-obviously he is the one with special needs!
He is a moron so I’m trying not to let what he said bother me. I guess he thinks seeking out an autism diagnosis is what I want to follow my son around with for the rest of his life. Like no health care, lack of meaningful friendships, and a lack of social skills. Sure why not, sounds like something I purposefully sought out for my child. Hopefully he’ll never have to experience the pain that can go with an autism diagnosis. I don’t wish that on anyone. He’s a JERK!
It doesn’t matter what comments Mr. Leary made about our children because he obviously is ignorant about autism. All I know is that I have worked very hard to bring my son to the level he is at today and God has blessed my efforts. And regardless of any attempts anyone makes to get us aroused to anger, joy will come to those who will open their lives to God for their source of life and truth. My son may not be functioning at his age level but God sees him as a jewel more precious than anything this world can afford.
Once again, ignorance strikes. It is its own epidemic. You have to remember that Leary will say and do just about anything to get attention and a laugh. He was criticized by the Irish for his sterotypical jokes about his own family. Enough said. I do wonder if this might have something to do with getting some attention for his cable TV show. As they say, there is no such thing as bad publicity. Anyway, he is just another person who wants a easy scapegoat–the parents. If you want to blame me for my child’s needs–get in line. There is a long line ahead of you, so be prepared to wait. Meanwhile, I’m moving forward and working to meet my child’s needs. By the way Mr. Leary, would you like to be criticized for your lil’ darlings’ behavior, academic performance, social skills, etc?
just watch the vid i have!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fp_qbyj25E
he better not come to NYC!
To be honest, I consider this another form of bullying, like playground bullying and cyberbullying. I remember my son’s schools’ stances on how to fight bullying - if you see someone being bullied, support them. If you are being bullied, ignore the bully (unless they are threatening you with harm, in which case run as fast as you can). Feel free to tell a higher authority.
Given that information, I tell others when I feel that their support of these bullies is out of line. I do not give these bullies my attention or support. And I will encourage everyone to look at the poor fellow trying to rile us up, recognize that he hasn’t got enough information to stand on, and just quietly walk away. He’ll get bored of talking to himself eventually.
I won’t be watching anything with Mr. Leary in it, ever again. If any talk shows host him, I won’t watch them, ever agin. If I see a product that he is endorsing, I won’t buy it. If we all do it, it will certainly send a message.
As a English mum who enjoys the autism communications i have from about us….all i can say is
Dennis Leary…waste of space, shame on him that he needs this political hot potato to try to re invent himself
As a English mum who enjoys the autism communications i have from about us….all i can say is
Dennis Leary…waste of space, shame on him that he needs this political hot potato to try to re invent himself
After reading what Mr Leary said I will never watch him in any thing he does. My 3 yr old grandson has autism and I can tell you he is a loving child who has already learned his adcs foward and backwards, I’ll bet Dennis can’t do that ! He can also count to 100 forard and backwards and can read some books that six year olds learning to read, so Mr Leary where do you get off saying these children are lazy and stupid ? Y sir should look in the mirror !
Unfortunately its true! He may get the attn he wants. What better way to piss america off then by insulting the weak? Being the parent of an Autistic Savant, I know my kid isnt stupid..but after hearing what Leary had to say I have to wonder if he is! I know alot of people who used to buy his stuff that are now boycotting. Im also a fan of Comedy Centrals annual fundraiser for Autism, but I wont be watching this year if he is a part of it!!
I like to say that I was very hurt when I read
what he had said about autistic children. They
are not “stupid” they are very bright and have
special talents, especially in art & music. My
son’s talent is a problem solver. He should also know that one of the greatest artist of all time is autistic and lives in london. I
would just like to say that we parents are blessed with our special children and are so precious and lucky to not be involved in this
world today, and I belive god has blessed us and them. Sorry so long, but I just wanted to
share my feelings. God bless all of you
Denis Leary is evil…..I wish I had his email address….
You left out this other comment by Leary: “I thought I made my feelings about autism very clear: that I not only support the current rational approaches to the diagnoses and treatment of real autism but have witnessed it firsthand while watching very dear old friends raise a functioning autistic child…. The point of the chapter is not that autism doesn’t exist — it obviously does — and I have nothing but admiration and respect for parents dealing with the issue, including the ones I know. The bulk of the chapter deals with grown men who are either self-diagnosing themselves with low-level offshoots of the disease or wishing they could as a way to explain their failed careers and troublesome progeny.” Don’t you think he kind of has a point there? It’s insulting to start using the term “autism” to refer to every socially awkward math whiz and half the eccentrics. How would you like it if someone you had thought you could trust or someone with authority over you tried to tell you that you were socially inferior to everyone around you? I do have respect for the fact that autism exists and that it can be difficult for parents; I take issue with the paradigm of labeling the Urkel types with a form of “autism.”
I recently wrote to the publisher on this and you can see what the responce was.
Dear J E,
We appreciate that you’ve taken the time to contact us, and we’d like to share with you the statement that Denis Leary has issued in response to comments about his new book, WHY WE SUCK: A FEEL GOOD GUIDE TO STAYING FAT, LOUD, LAZY AND STUPID:
The people who are criticizing the “Autism Schmautism” chapter in my new book “Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid” clearly have not read it.
Or if they have, they missed the sections I thought made my feelings about autism very clear: that I not only support the current rational approaches to the diagnoses and treatment of real autism but have witnessed it firsthand while watching very dear old friends raise a functioning autistic child.
The point of the chapter is not that autism doesn’t exist—it obviously does—and I have nothing but admiration and respect for parents dealing with the issue, including the ones I know.
The bulk of the chapter deals with grown men who are either self-diagnosing themselves with low-level offshoots of the disease or wishing they could as a way to explain their failed careers and troublesome progeny.
Of course, this entire misunderstanding can be easily avoided simply by doing one thing—reading the book.
Taking one or two sentences out of context—especially when it involves an entire chapter devoted to the subject—is unfair and ill-advised.
Too often in this country, everything gets reduced to simple sound bites and very very often those sound bites are not truly representative of an author or artist’s point of view.
Please give me the benefit of the doubt by reading all of what I wrote before attacking me.
I am appalled that a celebrity, regardless of first ammendment rights to speech, has the audacity to speak ill of defenseless children. My son is neither lazy, stupid, or ill-tempered. He is extremely intelligent in math and science. What he lacks in social and language skills, he certainly makes up for in winning math contests and designing science projects. Could he be the next designer of a new space shuttle? Hmmmm…I wouldn’t call that being lazy OR stupid. To all the parents of an autistic child…instead of blurbing about this “idiot” we need to ignore is ignorance and continue caring for our children just as they are….WONDERFULLY MADE! God bless to all those parents who know exactly how I feel.
This comment absolutely breaks my heart and reinforces that many do not get it or know what families with autistic children go through and deal with everyday. If it was as simple as a parenting issue or bad behavior, you would think that after the many parenting classes(that we were told we needed) and the psychologists we saw (who worked with typical behavior issues in children) should have fixed our three autistic children years ago!! All I can say is shame on you Dennis Leary!! Let’s see him spend a day in our shoes!!
His comment about having dear old friends whom he admires raising a “functioning ” autistic is a lie. Because if you have dear old friends and you spend any time with them and really hear them you would see that neither the child or the parents are lazy or stupid. And to say that parents feel vindicated that they haven’t done their parental job right and are feeling justified when they receive a diagnosis of autism is ludicrous. Lazy parents?, I have a daughter- in- law who has never in 2 and 1/2 years had a full nights sleep, never had a babysitter and has read every bit of information their is to help herself help him and does hours and hours of therapy with him daily. And then there is his statement saying “current rational treatment” . Another judgement by Dr. Leary the expert on autism. No doctor can tell you how autism happens and why it is happening to more and more children, much less what the treatment there is . So it is understandable that a mother will try everything she can to get through. Well, there is always Karma, Dennis, beware. You may understand the real truth someday yourself. You could use a compassion lesson yourself.
His comment about having dear old friends whom he admires raising a “functioning ” autistic is a lie. Because if you have dear old friends and you spend any time with them and really hear them you would see that neither the child or the parents are lazy or stupid. And to say that parents feel vindicated that they haven’t done their parental job right and are feeling justified when they receive a diagnosis of autism is ludicrous. Lazy parents?, I have a daughter- in- law who has never in 2 and 1/2 years had a full nights sleep, never had a babysitter and has read every bit of information their is to help herself help him and does hours and hours of therapy with him daily. And then there is his statement saying “current rational treatment” . Another judgement by Dr. Leary the expert on autism. No doctor can tell you how autism happens and why it is happening to more and more children, much less what the treatment there is . So it is understandable that a mother will try everything she can to get through. Well, there is always Karma, Dennis, beware. You may understand the real truth someday yourself. You could use a compassion lesson yourself.
Sorry, but there are times you really do have to fight.
It isn’t just parents of autistic kids who should be outraged by this; Leary’s pretty much accused doctors, social workers, etc. of all being in on some sort of grand conspiracy to misdiagnose kids as autistic.
This sort of bile-filed, angry insult-barrage hurled at a certain segment of society isn’t harmless, and isn’t funny. Just recently in California, at Vazquez High, a special ed student killed himself on campus because he’d been so horribly bullied. And another special ed student has come forward to say that she was bullied too. The way the mentally disabled, retarded or autistic are viewed in our society, and treated by it, is serious, and it’s going to get worse if pin-headed celebrities don’t get called on what they say.
And, please spare me the excuse that “Aw, Leary’s just a comic!” Comics are funny (or they used to be); Laurel & Hardy were comics. Buster Keaton was a comic. The Three Stooges, Bob Hope, Jack Benny were comics. Leary is an angry, embittered jerk, spewing agitprop which he tries to pass off as humor. When that doesn’t work, he whines that he’s being taken out of context.
Can you imagine if he’d said something similar about, say, cancer? “Now I’m not saying there’s isn’t such a thing as real cancer, but in my opinion, all this worry about it is just plain garbarge! It’s a lot of people who just want to get off work, and watch their hair fall out! People are using it as an excuse not to go out and do their bit for society! They aren’t really sick, they just don’t want to work!”
And for God’s sake, don’t buy his wretched book! It’s probably either ghostwritten, or has been tweaked by a hard-working editor to make it palatable to the public.
Denis Leary told us what he thinks of autistic kids and their parents—un-cut, unexpurgated, uncensored, and totally honest. Why should we read his book?
None of us should expect comments in a book written by a shock comedian to be researched and referenced. Leary is just sharing his opinions and insights. His comments may be based personal experiences or hearsay - but any and all of those sources are okay in Leary’s book. The point of his book may be to engage different perspectives and encourage others to join in the conversation.
Denis Leary is trying to sell books and solicit media attention.
Oh, okay, autsimnewsbeath; Leary’s just trying to engage us in friendly conversation when he calls our kids “dumbasses”; He just wants to have an informative little chat about. . . um, what exactly? How fat, stupid, loud and lazy we parents of autistic kids are, and how we should listen to his words of wisdom in handling our kids?
Funny, when I usually want to begin a conversation, I don’t start by insulting the people I’m supposedly trying to communicate with.
When Leary starts lecturing the public on health issues, such as autism, he really ought to have something better to offer than his own uninformed opinions and prejudices. He’s a celebrity, and, unfortunately when celebrities pontificate, too many people assume they do know something about what they’re babbling about. And, anyway, if he doesn’t want to be taken seriously, why does he even bother speaking on serious subjects? Why did he even bother writing his book? Please, don’t play the shock-jock card; it’s overused.
When Leary starts lecturing the public on health issues, such as autism, he really ought to have something better to offer than his own uninformed opinions and prejudices.
Oh come on! It’s a book by a comedian, not a medical journal! Leary has no obligation to inform or enlighten. If you don’t like what he’s writing, then don’t buy the book. There are plenty of other books that take a more evidenced based approach to autism. I recommend Unstrange Minds by Richard Grinker.
Yeah, autismmedia, it’s a book by a comedian (an extremely unfunny one), but it’s not a joke book, or, from what I can tell, even one intended to be humorous; it’s a book where Leary apparently does intend to inform and enlighten us terrible parents of “dumb-ass” autistic kids as to what we’re doing wrong, and alert the rest of the country as to the terrible fraud we’re perpetrating on it. So, when he gets up on his inform-and-enlighten soapbox, yes, he deserves all the criticism he gets when he spews garbage. So please, enough with the, “Aww, he’s just a comedian! He’s being FUNNY!” excuse! 1. He isn’t being funny here, and 2. Being a comedian doesn’t give you a “Get-out-of-jail-card-free!” for being an idiot.
Don’t tell me that celebrities don’t influence people. Every time Oprah, or the ladies on The View have on somebody who says something like “Eating boiled onions six times a day is a sure cure for autism1″ I get calls from well-meaning friends, urging me to go out and buy sacks of onions for my son! There is prejudice in our society against special ed/disabled kids (did you read my earlier post about the boy who was bullied into suicide?); people like Leary who encourage others to see autistic kids as lazy, undisciplined brats, who refuse to learn, will make this ugly worse.
And, as I made very clear in my comment #32, I have no intention of buying his book—why do you even bring that up?
When an infant has been given a Hep B vaccine at birth for “PREVENTIVE” MEASURES not because either parent has it. When, a child can’t walk for 3 years, Can’t relieve himself, Can’t communicate for three years, and can’t feed himself. When, Flourishing incomes are reduced to 1 based solely on the fact that caring parents (both in home thank you very much), When doctors have no answers! When, hours are spent during grueling sessions last for hours,! See, what many of you fail to realize is that our children arn’t dumb they arn’t coming from house-holds where parents don’t care. I, for one am not lazy! When they said that I should put my son in an in an crazy house I stood up and said NO! My son will be successful, I refuse to allow anyone to give up on him. It, starts with home!
I’m offended by the words he spoke! His views, is what has society messed up in the first place! Not, every person that has an autistic child is lazy or stupid. I, mean Yes there are moments when the outburst are a lot to handle, yes I believe that mine can’t just get away with it. So, you as the parent set those boundaries. If, it causes me to repeat myself 10 or 20 times he’s going to win. There, are some families that just let somethings go and never put a stop to it and use the “WE’LL ITS THE AUTISM” but if you take the time (which requires hours on hours repeative behavior on your end as the parent/turn the soaps off for a second) then those out burst will stop. Many, of them are doing it to be heard. How, would you feel if you no one understood you but we say “TALK” it’s a battle! Working with the speech therapists, not giving in when it seems as if this hour is taking you to the max! Once, you put in the hard work then you’ll start to see the results. Mr. Comedian, (what’s your name again)anyway my advice to you is I’d love to see you for some hours sit in a room with our children and see how much fun you’d have. HA HA! Have you ever had to make the choice SR between a paycheck every two weeks or the safety and well being of your disabled child? Do, you know what that’s like……………………………………Many parents across the country are dealing with that on a regular basis. What you fail to understand is that these kids althogh they may look like they are 6 they have the mind of a 2 year-old. Not, because they are stupid or lazy (hours running back and foward when it comes to mine by no means is he lazy),but because their something not connectiing in the brain hence the word “BRAIN DISORDER” That’s, just like me saying you can take a few pointers from STEVE HARVEY in the joke business. Why, when I’m limited in know who you are or what you represent. Your able to just hire nannies to take care of your kids(if you have them), you have the chance to travel all over the world and meet new people, your able to eat at fancy places and dine with the stars. Your life, you should be grateful for what you have and try to give back to spend personal time with the parents that have to travel to doctors offices, and see therapists for hours just to prepare their children, the mothers who are forced to place their kids away becuase her support system has died and she herself has gotten older in age. Visit those inner cities where the women are loosing their jobs becuase the childcare bills are getting too high. I challange you, to come and talk to the families who started out with dreams (because not everyone is out breaking the law to get ahead),of being their own business owners, or writers but who where given the life sentence of autism yet we don’t have your income or your VIP status that you or Jenny would have access to. I, gave up my dreams so that my child could live and have a chance at life. With, the right resources(may mean that you have to relocate to get those services),your children can make it!
This guy isn’t a good actor and he is certainly not good at anything else either. He needs to disapear, we don’t need another uninformed jackass telling people advice that has absoulutley no merit whatsoever.