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

[lynninny]

I am playing devil's advocate here. I am a teacher, have my own children, and would never for a moment consider autism anything but a serious syndrome that deserves special education, treatment, and research; however, Denis Leary is well-known as extremely acerbic and dark. Haven't you ever seen the series Rescue Me, or seen his standup? Don't you think he is kidding?

[Swerinjer2]

Its gotta be deliberate controversy. He saw Tropic Thunder get away with it so heck why not.

[Mattie]

Wow, I wonder if he's an Obama supporter, first they mock kids with Downs Syndrome, now Autism, There's some compassion.

[DeadHorse]

Holy cow...how on earth does this article relate IN ANY WAY to the election? Are McCain supporters so desperate to be heard above the white noise eminating from the campaign itself that they have to "wonder if he's an Obama supporter"...

What is it with all this equivelancy cr.ap? Denis Leary mouthing off has nothing what-so-ever to do with Sen Obama.

And speaking of "mocking" lets talk about Gov. Palin. A woman who purports to support special needs kids and their betterment. And then, as Gov. of Alaska HACKS the budget for the special Olympics. And that is just ONE instance of her duplicity on the subject of children.

[rzan1]

No one in the Obama campaign or his supporters are mocking Down syndrome. You are lying. I do happen to feel very sorry for Sarah Palin's very exploited infant whom she seems to use for photo ops.

[dylansmom0925]

The crazy thing is...I have loved Denis Leary and have been a huge fan of Rescue me since day one. My husband and I wait for the new season every year, it is the only show we can really agree to watch together.
It saddens me that someone I have always thought was tremendously funny, sexy and a great actor could be that pompous and have such a total disregard for helpless children that need acceptance from someone like Mr. Leary. Instead of "bashing" he could be helping by getting the word out that we need a cure.
As a parent with a 6 year old child with autism I can tell you that I am one of the most attentive mothers, I have been since he was conceived and my husband teaches kindness not competitiveness.
My son is nor lazy nor stupid, he is autistic.
Check your facts Mr. Leary, you are sorely uninformed. You sound like someone that has not yet been touched by autism, but as time will prove, one day you will be.

[snowflakedec]

It saddens me that he has to resort to stupidity to get his one day of fame.

[Penske43]

What's the matter? Denis Leary's Publicist trying to figure out a way to get him back in the limelight?

Pathetic.

[snowflakedec]

Denis is disgusting, and we just devoted a whole day to his stupidity- we gave him what he wanted.

[andvoodoo2]

I don't think so. If you read the 8 (and counting) pages of comments, most people seem to be writing Leary off FOR GOOD. I won't pay to see him in anything ever again. I hope his insensitivity and his stupidity lead him right into irrelevancy.

[DundeeNatalSA]

I do not agree with Denis' comments, however, I must say that I myself was diagnosed as autistic. I came from a different country where I had a first rate private school education, friends, etc. etc. and then we moved to the US. As soon as I landed on the American shore and went to school, I was diagnosed as autistic. In reality I was crippled by shyness and culture shock and need a long period of adjustment. So I was clearly misdiagnosed...for whatever that's worth........

[AntonBursch]

it's worth a lot.

[Bruupo]

I'm definitely with you on condemning Leary's comments, if he really wanted to be part of a debate, he wouldn't callously disregard the seriousness of the issue and the emotions of so many families while trying to sell a book for profit.

But I do believe there are questions to be raised about the diagnostic criteria currently in use. If there isn't really a causal factor for the epidemic of diagnosis in recent years, such as immunizations, then what has changed?

My sympathies go out to any family affected by autism or Asperger's, but there is a serious debate to be had about what diagnostic criteria are used and how strictly developmental guidelines should be adhered. There is a danger of over-diagnosing these conditions and drastically lowering expectations or needlessly labeling or medicating conditions and thereby hampering what would be "normal" or near to normal development in some borderline children.

We do get too used to the idea of "normalcy" despite the fact that we are all unique mutations, there are more humans living now than have ever died, and the sciences regarding behavior are usually the least empirical. Some people can recall memories from an age when science says they shouldn't be able, and all people experience their own unique socialization.

I hope more is learned soon, but people like Leary and Savage are nothing but destructive to the important search for facts.

[hypnotoad72]

Isn't this the same Leary who did drugs throughout the 1960s?

He ought to go off of them; his own brain is fried.

[JonDiVito]

For those of you who want to let Mr. Leary know how you feel about his comments. Here is all of his contact information. The first company is his company. You can also call his agent
and publicists. I called his agent, company, and publicists and ripped him. How dare he attack defenseless special needs children. He is a coward!

Jon

Company Title Occupation Address Contact
Apostle Actor/Director/ Producer Executive 568 Broadway, Ste 301
New York, NY 10012
USA
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.apostlen yc.com/

Representation

Company Agent Type Address Contact
Paradigm Stephen Small Talent Agent 360 N. Crescent Dr
North Bldg.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
USA
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.paradigm agency.com

42West Amanda Silverman Publicist 220 W. 42nd St.
12th Floor
New York, NY 10036
USA
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.42west. net
amanda.silverman@ 42west.net

42West Carrie Gordon Publicist 220 W. 42nd St.
12th Floor
New York, NY 10036
USA
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
http://www.42west. net
carrie.gordon@ 42west.net

Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca, Fischer, Gilbert-Lurie, Stiffelman & Cook Sam Fischer Legal Representative 1801 Century Park W.
Los Angeles, CA 90067
USA
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[mizzou66]

He must've taken a huge hit with all of this Wall Street mess to be taking such cheap shots at children in order to sell his book. I don't care what anyone says, this isn't comedy in any shape or form. And, just out of curiosity, where does he say the fathers of these children are while the mothers are being so "inattentive"? What a complete jacka$$.

[BarbaraV]

For a man whose second child was born 3 months early maybe he shouldn't be spitting at Heaven with these comments.

Maybe Mrs. Leary was such an inattentive mother-to-be that she caused the early birth. Or was Mr. Leary so competitive that he wanted his kid born earlier than every other Hollywood has-been's kid?

What goes around comes around Denis and karma is one hell of a nasty witch. Especially to celebrities who think they and theirs are above it all.

[DeeW]

Humor is best when it's directed at oneself, or at the things we as humans do ... not when it's directed outward at others. Just my opinion.

Anyway, this would matter if Leary was relevant.

[Sunsprite]

DeeW

Well said ..

Cheers!

[JaneaneTheAcerbicGoblin]

Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid,"

Sounds like Leary's autobiography.

[bknott]

I have Asperger's Syndrome, which is high-functioning autism. I don't believe I've ever been called stupid, although my social skills were definitely behind everyone else's. I was never diagnosed with anything - neither were any of the other Asperger's kids. We were always around, though.

When my son was diagnosed with Asperger's, I was so relieved and grateful. I was so excited to find out there was a reason why I never fit in, and to discover that there were therapies we could use for my son, so he could identify his problem areas, work on them, and enjoy school.

I'm not that offended by Leary - I just can't take him seriously at all. Although I wouldn't have expected Rush-like ranting from over there, I guess right-wing shock jocks haven't cornered the market on being whores to schill their product. (pardon any offense to actual whores)

[Sunsprite]

bknott

A dear friend of my daughter and indeed a dear friend to all our family has Asperger's Syndrome and it is a privilege to know her.

They have been friends since first grade and both are now in their last year of high school.

She was diagnosed when she was ten and started therapy.
It has been very difficult for her socially especially after puberty kicked in.

However,her family are very close,loving and supportive and indeed very special as one does admire the sheer commitment and support they give each other.

Dennis Leary is one of those people who discovered his own human intelligence and feels he has all answers now when clearly he demonstrates ignorance and asserts only loose assumptions.

He is referring to the so called hyper active child and or ADHD who are IMO needlessly medicated with horrible medications and including Ritalin.
And indeed since more often than not parenting skills are no longer handed down, many families broken,stressed and over worked I'm not surprised some people like Leary feel they can throw a crude blanket instead of looking closer and searching for a root cause.

[bknott]

Good point. When I read his comments, he sounded like he was mistaking ADHD for autism.

That's cojones, all right. Not only to give out free medical and parenting advice, but to give it out on the wrong condition.

[Topfeeder]

Leary had a son that was grossly premature and had very low birth weight. Wonder how he would appreciate some bozo commenting that the reason for his son's predicament was inattentive prenatal care and lazy parents.

[bklynyc54]

jeez folks.. he's a frickin comedian.. how serious are you gonna take this.. have a cocktail.. light up a marlboro and put your indignation back in your hat...

[deeplip]

If he is, as you say, a "frickin' comedian", he needs to find another line of work. There's nothing funny about autism, and nothing funny about Leary's lame comments.

[DeeW]

Leary's more of a shock jock kind of comedian, doesn't take a lot of talent to tick people off and then laugh at the people ticked off ... most pre-teen boys can do that.

[dylansmom0925]

You're a "frickin" idiot if you do not take those hurtful things seriously.

[corysadvocate]

Apparently your as stupid and uneducated as leary is, bklync54