Autism United Protests Against Dennis Leary
Friday, October 17, 2008
filed under: moms are talking about
Evelyn Ain, president of Autism United, is calling for a rally and protest against Dennis Leary. When he appears at Comics Come Home 14 in Boston, one of the largest comedy events in the country, the group plans to have hundreds of parents and children picketing the concert.
The protest is in response to the upcoming book "We Suck," which describes kids with autism as both stupid and lazy. The group is calling for a book boycott and asking companies like Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and other major chains not to carry it because it is hurtful to children nationwide. One out of 150 children in this country are diagnosed with autism.
According to Ms. Ain, "The autism community is not taking this as a joke. If Dennis Leary feels by putting these shocking comments in his book is going to create hype, we're going to have autism families from coast to coast protesting his appearances ... showing the joke is really on him."
Here's what Jenny McCarthy had to say: "Whoo! First of all, let me tell you, the autism community has received probably 10,000 emails [saying] 'Go kill him!' 'Go yell at him,'" Jenny told Billy Bush for Access Hollywood and "The Billy Bush Show" in an interview yesterday. "[But] it's so hard to even get up enough juice in me or energy in me to even try to fight someone that is obviously stupid."
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Email20 comments so far | Post a comment now >>
this man needs to be made an example of, an autistic person is way smarter then he is, just because my autistic 5yr old cant talk doesnt mean that he isnt smarter then me, i think boycotting this man’s book is a great idea elizabeth mother of a 5yr old autistic son
- Elizabeth
I agree. A boycott is in order. We have free speech in this country, so he’s allowed to speak his mind, but that doesn’t mean that stores have to carry his hurtful message…
- mary
Children with autism are unique, special individuals. They are anything but lazy and stupid. I’m guessing if Dennis spent a few days in a classroom with children who have ASD his perspective would drastically change. So Dennis, lets go with the idea, it is not what you say, but rather, what YOU DO in life that matters. Take my challenge, then get back to the children, families, and professionals who work with autistic children. I would love to hear what you think.
- Kim Anderson
Mr. Leary BEYOND STUPID, HURTFULL Comment is obiously another example what ignorance does to humans, you become stupid and heartless. Mr. Leary is a petty, ingnorant and very cruel man and only tells you how low his carrer is that he has to insult little angels that some of them can not speak for them self, but they do have their mothers who loves them and in anyway we are lazy or ignorants like he is. My son is my biggest teacher, he is made me who I am, and if he only knew how much us as parents of an autistic child we work on educating our selves, just so we can help our child. I would also like to ask Mr. Leary a question, yes, my son is autistic, but, What the hell is wrong with you? We know you don’t have any heart
- Adriana
he looks really ugly……
- geen
Ok I know this is not going to be a popular post. But I think his comments are being taken way too literally and prolly out of context. He’s an intelligent, hilarious man with respect for all people. I’ve seen his stand up where he talks about kids and if they touch a hot stove more than once they are stupid. It’s meant to be funny not hurtful. No, I personally do not have children with autism but I have the utmost respect for those that do. I’m very interested to see his response to all the controversy.
- mom22
TO MOM 22! If you think that he is intelligent, then I have to say that then both of you are stupid. This is ridiculous and saying something like this is impossible to digest. You cannot have respect for both either. If he is your idol, that is your problem. Go and merry him. Autism is so serious problem recognized worldwide. Calling our little ones stupid and lazy ones is outrageous and this guy should go to the jail. So mom 22, both of you should first visit some autistic kids, spend some time with them and learn about it. I am wondering why you are posting your opinion here? Since you do not have an autistic child, what is the purpose of doing this? You are defending this jerk while having a respect to those with autism. This is called hypocrisy and you may want to check yourself first. He does not. He is sick any way.
- Hus
Add a Text Comment Elizabeth on October 18, 2008 11:58 AM wrote: this man needs to be made an example of, an autistic person is way smarter then he is, just because my autistic 5yr old cant talk doesnt mean that he isnt smarter then me, i think boycotting this man’s book is a great idea elizabeth mother of a 5yr old autistic son elizabeth smoked crack while she was pregnant that is why her son is autistic she should go to jail for child abuse your a child abuser elizabeth
- Anonymous
Add a Text Comment Elizabeth on October 18, 2008 11:58 AM wrote: this man needs to be made an example of, an autistic person is way smarter then he is, just because my autistic 5yr old cant talk doesnt mean that he isnt smarter then me, i think boycotting this man’s book is a great idea elizabeth mother of a 5yr old autistic son elizabeth smoked crack while she was pregnant that is why her son is autistic she should go to jail for child abuse your a child abuser elizabeth
- mike snioth
I have two sons with ASD. My oldest is in the moderate range. He learned his states and capitals at 5. He memorizes maps from all over the country. He struggles in many other ways, but STUPID is not one of them! The thought that any child with this diagnoses is just an excess of lazy parenting is insulting and has made my life a little harder. People are going to believe this crap! Socially my life is already hard and having people believe this just makes for a bigger WALL up for my family. Autism is not a tragedy but ignorance is.
- Zaysmom
What Leary said/wrote shows he doesn’t know the facts and that he’d like to get people talking so he can sell a lot of books. This may be off-topic, but when people comment on things like this in a public forum and have spelling errors, or use the wrong words - Elizabeth’s use of “way smarter THEN he is”, for example - they lose credibility. Leary’s trying to sell books. When we talk about it, it’s almost as if we’re helping him.
- Jeff the dad
The beauty of the internet is that it is an open forum, where everyone’s opinion is out there for all to read. That isn’t going to change. What Denis Leary said was insensitive to those who live with autism. We can simply choose to not read his book. He is entitled to his freedom of speech, however “undigestible” it is.
- Lady
WOW i like how all you people took a comedian as an insult he is just joking to get a few laughs calm down
- chris
1 out 150 diagnosed with it? Must be the parenting (lack thereof, namely discipline) or the tap water…
- B
So what do you do if you are old and washed up? Write a controversial book to make money. He is as transparent and evil as Ann Colter. Neither of them believe,or even care,about what they write. It’s all about $$$$$! Pathetic!
- Ellen Rutkowski
Far fewer people would have bought this book if not for this manufactured “controversy”. He’s an entertainer. If you want to “hurt” him, ignore him.
- Larry McElhinney
By the way, which is more disturbing… 1) A comedian saying something stupid OR 2) Jenny McCarthy saying that people have written “the autism community” to say “Go kill him”. And she makes no attempt to condemn such a violent statement.
- Larry McElhinney
to Hus: Please don’t call mom22 stupid when you can’t spell “marry” correctly or form complete sentences. Also, refusing to acknowledge another person’s opinion only makes you seem ignorant. I haven’t read Mr. Leary’s book personally in order to see for myself the context in which the comment was made, and I suspect many of the people shouting angrily against him haven’t either. I suggest you do the research for yourselves before you pile slander on the man like an angry mob. And by the way, if it makes any difference, this is coming from someone who does not like Dennis Leary’s style very much.
- Greg B
It’s commedy people! You’re all a bunch of hypocrites! I’ll bet every last one of you “outraged” people have laughed at a joke that someone else would find offensive. Fat jokes, blonde jokes, gay jokes, (name your taboo topic) jokes, etc… It’s too bad your autictic children are being raised by such stupid people as yourselves!
- Stupidisasstupiddoes
You cann’t insult people who cann’t defend themselves. First lesson I learned when I was little. Autism is not a taboo - it is a fact.
- Stuart Kasin
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