Denis Leary Slams Autism As A Joke

DENIS Leary should brace himself for hate mail from the parents of kids diagnosed with autism.

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."

The Autism Society of America responded: "For Mr. Leary to suggest that families or doctors conspire to falsely diagnose autism is ridiculous . . . [His] remarks reflect the same misconceptions of autism being caused by bad or unemotional parenting that were held over 50 years ago."

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In November's Vanity Fair, in a Q&A, Leary calls it his "favorite chapter":

Another chapter is titled "Autism Shamautism."
Which is my favorite chapter.

I see vigilante autism woman Jenny McCarthy picketing your book tour.
Great. That would be really good for me. It will help sell more books.

Comments

[rektruax]

All one needs to do is click the "read more" link. It's all part of the usual line of humor Leary goes for. It's not a humor for everyone. Last I checked, everything doesn't have to be for everyone.

[PJBroughton]

Most of us are aware that Mr. Leary's career was made by his play on the absurdities of political correctness. As a rule I have no problem with taking the anally retentive to task. However, his statements were grossly insensitive to the families of these children.
Personally I think Carlos Mencia makes his point better.

[rektruax]

Understood.

At the risk of sounding like a Leary apologist, I believe the emphasis of his comments were pointed more so toward over-reactionary parents in search of an excuse for their parenting deficiencies, than children with the actual disease of Autism.

Just my take...

[NewArtz]

Well, I understand the psychological disorder, Clinical Cynicallism, if left untreated will manifest itself through the patient's overt rudeness, humorless mockery and a steep decline in audience empathy. Jenny McCarthy, a one time sufferer, found that repeated doses of reality and heartbreaking confrontation with humanity brought her condition under control. Most doctors prescribe cutting back on commercially motivated self promotion and a regiment of walking in other's shoes. It's disturbing to see Mr. Leary's illness go untreated, but, as his career careens down a vortex of toilet water, we can expect to see an improvement in his response to the sufferings of others. It's hard to laugh at other's problems when you have so many of your own to cry about.

[sparkey]

Uh-oh, spell checker got me. I'm the comment pending. Should have said burro instead of ---. My other comment is going to disappear down the black hole of "don't post this".

[sparkey]

The only joke is Dennis Leary and the only reason he said it was to try to get his sagging career going again. Face facts, Dennis, you're a has been and the only way for you to go is out the door. Don't let it hit you on the ass on the way out.

[deckbose]

Leary has already done an entire tour called "No Cure for Cancer.".

You think making jokes about autism are somehow worse than making jokes about cancer?

It's not like he actually believes any of this. He's making fun.

No fun, you say?

Don't watch, I say.

[corysadvocate]

I would love for you to spend a day with our family,



NO FUN YOU SAY?

DONT MAKE FUN OF, Alot say!!!

[Bettysdad]

Why would anyone care what an actor/comedian has to say about a medical problem?

The level of anger being displayed here makes me think people may be afraid they've been called on something.

You can't be insulted by a jacka$$. If you keep arguing with the jacka$$, it raises a lot of questions.

Get upset about the people that don't believe you should have healthcare for your autistic child.

Get upset with Republicans.

Ignore Denis Leary.

[huzzah]

I don't watch "Rescue Me" and haven't particularly followed Leary at all since his days doing MTV promos and Francis the ladybug in "A Bug's Life". I say this only to show that I am not a Leary fan defending him. What he said WAS offensive.

That said, all the furor over this here reminds me a little of the Tourette's episode of South Park. For those who haven't seen it, Cartman sees a kids cussing, learns about Tourette's, and starts faking it. Kyle says he's faking and gets vilified by a Tourette's advocacy group, its leader angrily chastising him and saying it's a real disease. To paraphrase: "I know it's a real disease, and many people suffer from it, but isn't it possible that maybe, just on this one occasion, this one person is faking?"

Isn't it possible that Leary believes autism is real, but a tendency toward hyperbole and creating controversy for the sake of publicity led to such a gross mis-statement of what is a valid question? That question being, "Why is it that Autism rates have skyrocketed lately?"

I've seen several cases in which doctors "diagnose" kids as having some disorder or another because then the kids can be served for special education at school. Autism isn't necessarily the fake diagnosis that makes the most sense here, but to deny the possibility that SOME parents seek out an Autism spectrum diagnosis for their kids seems a little naive to me.

[Mickey7]

I think Leary was out of line, but it is not accurate to suggest, as the American Psychiatric Society appears to do, that the diagnostic standards for autism are clearcut and consistently applied. They are not, and there is mounting evidence the diagnosis is overused and misused, especially with the recent interest in Asperger syndrome--the most commonly 'self-diagnosed' disorder in the world. The problem with sloppy definitions and lax standards is exactly this--people start to discredit the entire disorder, which is highly unjust to those who actually do have the disability. Truly autistic children are disabled, sometimes severely, so Leary is just plain wrong in those instances and it is pretty insensitive and ignorant of him to lump all cases together. I also think Jenny McCarthy's advocacy could potentially do more harm than good. If she "cured" her son of autism, chances are that's not what he actually had.

[KYZipster]

I'm an adult with Asperger's, as far as I know I've never been disabled, although I am 'truly autistic'. Hey, I didn't create the concept of the autism spectrum, a bunch of experts did.

I don't think you know what you're talking about.

[Chaimirija]

As a parent to an 'aspie' I could not agree more. It is the 'experts' that have turned it into a disability.

The other end of the 'spectrum' is a different story, have to agree with Mickey.

BTW, Jenny McCarthy is dangerous because she promotes the biomedical quackery..­.

as for denis leary, me thinks he has confused ASD with ADD...that­'s sorta funny in itself, maybe he has ADD and missed the details!

[corysadvocate]

I have a child with autism, sensory integrative disorder and hypotonia, allergies ,asthma.He could not eat solid food without gagging and vomiting until he was four. He is 10 now and his diet has grown, but still very limited.He continues to gag and vomit on certain foods due to his sensory integrative disorder, problems breathing because of hypotonia also several broken brones from hypotonia. He is legally disabled because autism is only one of his medical conditions. Every child with autism is so very different!!

[neurologymatters]

Denis- You stated on television the candidate you choose will be for stem cell research. Many disorders/diseases were not diagnosed when we were growing up. Autism is very real. Please do not say Autism is make beleive-not just because it is wrong, but because if someone states Autism is not real, what is the next disorder people will say is not real? You do great charitbale work. However, I will not donate to your Firefighter's Fund again until you take back what you said. Two wrongs don't make a right. But you started it Leary.

[daemos1]

heh, Denis, you're a kook!

[EssentialEmmes]

Sounds like the autism remarks came right out of the Michael Savage primer. Why would Leary put these erroneous, ignorant, and obviously angry, remarks out there without doing any homework unless he's mentally deranged, doing some new drugs without knowing how they'd affect him, trying to attract additional attention, or a bit of all 3? He can't be that disconnected that he doesn't know about autism, since we all know someone affected by this growing epidemic. There has to be some under-the-radar reason he said such stupid stuff. Maybe he's just a real mean bastard who likes to pick fights.

[steveward14]

I don't even know who Denis Leary is, but it's obvious he's never had a special needs kid. Let's see Denis spend a day in the shoes of some of these Autism parents and then say that stuff again.

[1099]

His point was not that autism doesn't exist and he didn't take a shot at the parents of children who truly have special needs. His point is that parents these days don't want to face facts about their children and are more prone to run to a shrink for a diagnosis as to why their child is not as bright as the others as opposed to accepting the fact maybe their kid isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Autism is a real disease no doubt. The same can be said of ADD. However, the frequency at which children in this country are diagnosed with these ailments is off the charts and perpetuated by the medical community. Not every stupid, badly behaved child has ADD of autism. Many are just stupid badly behaved children and their parents need to accept it and deal with it anf not make a mad dash to pharmacy.

[corysadvocate]

The only medications my child is on is to help him breathe

[sinnerQ]

I will never watch that show again.

[dahpunkster]

My best friend Vi is high functioning autism,to add insult to injury,Her dad had a heart attack in front of her when she was 9.
She and her mom worked really hard on getting her to where she is. She is currently working on her Masters in Psychology and education & now works with autistic kids and tries to help them achieve their highest level.She sounds like an answering machine, but it doesn't bother me,she has been my rock for the past 11 yrs.It is too sad people like Dennis Leary, and Mike Savage are so ignorant& closed minded to really get to know the people they put shallow labels on. It only proves their own hatred for what they do not understand.
Punky

[Chaimirija]

the latest research found the genetic component.­..sometime the genes are missing (probably where the severe form comes in) and sometimes they have just not 'turned on' yet....

[JonRaymond]

Right on. The number of kids diagnosed with autism has increased in recent years by triple digit percentages. Does this mean more kids are autistic? No. It means schools are diagnosing them that way to get government funding for special ed classes.
http://jonraymond.blogspot.com/2008/04/grade-school-learn-how-to-bullshit.html

[wbarley]

Our school struggles just to get even adequate Special Ed. You sound like you think they're making a profit off of it. Do you have any idea what it's like to deal with the education system just to get some assistance when you have an autistic child? The years of work involved, the hoops we've had to jump through? The endless testing? We've been very lucky just to get into a school that offers a specialized class. More government funding for autism? We're hopeful for a day when there will actually be ENOUGH government funding.

[elliegrl]

You cannot be serious...­The schools/districts fight tooth and nail to prevent children from getting special ed/ IEPS (Individualized Education Plans). We are in the process now of fighting for our son to get the services he needs. They will even send your kids to THEIR doctors who lo and behold, return with a diagnosis that helps the school. They keep the teachers intimidated too, so they write observations of the students that work to the school's favor. Most parents have to hire an educational advocate that costs ~$100 hr (including hours of prep time) or educational lawyers. If you want accurate information about this, read up at
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/ieps.tactics.session.htm
or even a yahoo q :
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080912170423AAh730P

[corysadvocate]

And u r oh yeah NOBODY

[corysadvocate]

RIGHT ON MAN RIGHT ON IN BEING TRULY IGNORANT