Amy Schumer Explains Why She Shared Her Husband's Autism Diagnosis on 'Late Night With Seth Meyers'
On Wednesday night, Amy Schumer went on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” to talk about her new Netflix special, “Growing” which began streaming on Tuesday. In her special, Schumer talks about marriage and reveals her husband Chris Fischer’s autism diagnosis. Myers commented that Fischer’s diagnosis seemed to been positive for their marriage.
“That’s why we both wanted to talk about it because it’s been totally positive,” Schumer told Meyers. She then hypothesized that perhaps some people resist getting diagnosed or having their children diagnosed because of stigma.
Schumer went on to say that since her husband’s diagnosis, they have been given tools that have helped not only her husband but their marriage. Although she did not elaborate on what those tools are, the comedian said those tools have “made his life more manageable.”
Schumer also told Myers that Fischer’s life and his trajectory are “not like everyone on the spectrum.” This relates to a common saying in the autism community, “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.”
Another thing Schumer wants people to know? She doesn’t want people to think she is “so nice” for marrying someone on the autism spectrum.
In her Netflix special, Schumer says:
And once he was diagnosed, it dawned on me how funny it was because all of the characteristics that make it clear that he is on the spectrum are all of the reasons why I fell madly in love with him. That’s the truth.
Myers told Schumer the part of the special that made him and his wife laugh the most were Schumer’s comments about how her husband cannot lie, which appears to be her way of saying Fischer is brutally honest and takes things literally.
Schumer then told Myers she asked her husband, “Does this look OK?” before the taping. To which he replied, “Well, it’s too late.”
Not everyone in the autistic community has supported Schumer’s announcement of her husband’s diagnosis, noting the conversation has been lead by Schumer as opposed to Fischer. However, there are people who are glad to see Fischer and Schumer’s marriage in the spotlight as an example of a healthy relationship when one partner is on the autism spectrum.
@amyschumer For many of us on the autism spectrum marriage is a fantasy and not a reality. So many of us go through life living on the outside. Your going public about your husband being on the spectrum is a game changer and gives many hope. Thank You!
— Sheri Marsh (@marsh_sheri) March 18, 2019
@amyschumer Knowing your husband is on spectrum with mild autism gives me hope 🙂 I'm also mildy autistic and I'm engaged to a wonderful woman. Knowing that you love your husband for it and that your starting a family helps me know that I also have a chance or starting a family!
— SpectrumFish (@spectrumfish) March 18, 2019
As somebody who’s (mildly) autistic, I applaud stories like this. I think that people need to learn more about autism so that they can better understand those who have it. You rock, Amy Schumer!
— Travis Kemp (@kemp_travis) March 22, 2019
Banner image via Amy Schumer Instagram.
Ellen Stumbo is the founder of Disability Matters, an organization with the mission to encourage every church to embrace disability. Ellen is a national speaker who focuses on issues pertaining adoption, faith, disability and parenting kids with disabilities. Ellen writes for several online platforms including Focus on the Family, LifeWay, MomSense, Not Alone, Mamapedia, Group, The Mighty and the Huffington Post. Her writing also appears in several book anthologies. Ellen blogs at ellenstumbo.com and you can also find her on Twitter and Facebook.
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