“A Critique of Anthony Hopkins’ Remarks on Autism and ADHD” by Michael Miller.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, one of my favorite actors; Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, The Wolfman) made some strange, if well intentioned comments on the rise in visibility of neurodiverse diagnosis.
Coming after his wife’s suggestion that he himself might have traits of autism, or ADHD, Hopkins publicly stated: “Well, I guess I’m cynical because it’s all nonsense, it’s all rubbish — ADHD, OCD, Asperger’s, blah, blah, blah. Oh God, it’s called living, it’s just being a human being, full of tangled webs and mysteries and stuff that’s in us, full of warts and grime and craziness. It’s the human condition. All these labels — I mean, who cares? But now it’s fashion.”
Already, his comments have faced criticism from autism and ADHD organizations, including the ADHD Foundation, which stated that dismissing these conditions as “fashionable” is “deeply unhelpful” and risks discouraging people from seeking diagnosis or support.
As an autistic person myself, I have a more measured but nevertheless mixed response to Hopkins’ comments. While I do understand that his sweeping dismissal of medical conditions, including my own, can easily be interpreted as a reinforcement of stigma and misunderstanding, I do understand his frustration with labels and want to celebrate the breadth of human experience and complexity, a stance that one could easily expect from a thespian actor of his generation.
I do not personally believe that Hopkins’ comments were intended with malice, especially given the reality of the man’s platform (Hopkins has 6.1 Instagram followers, and I’m one of them). Equally, I would not dare to suggest that critiques of his comments are entirely without merit, It does, however, need to be said that his insistence that being neurodivergent is “just called living” does evoke a sense of a well-meaning ignorance at best and reductionist attitudes towards disability at worst.
That isn’t to say I personally believe Hopkins’ intentions are inflammatory. The man’s social media content, especially around Christmastime, tend to be incredibly warm and life-affirming. He is a humanist in every sense, and seems to not view eccentricity, human emotions, or creativity intensity completely through a medical lens or criteria.
As an autistic person myself, I have even personally felt and witnessed in others (both with my disability and without) discomfort with the way psychological labels have entered public discourse so adamantly, combined with the cultural rise of self-diagnosis perpetuated through individualistic attitudes and people chasing social media “clout” without actual medical assessment. In this light, I suspect Hopkins’ cynicism simply stems from an older generation’s discomfort with what appears to be the “medicalization” of ordinary experience. His comments, taken in context, express a desire to see human variation not as a pathology but as part of diversity.
However, the principal weakness of Hopkins’ argument lies in his sweeping generalization and dismissal of legitimate neurological conditions. By lumping together ADHD, OCD, and autism as “rubbish” or “fashion,” he erases the lived experiences of millions of people for whom these are not passing trends but lifelong neurodevelopmental realities. Scientific research consistently demonstrates that ADHD and autism involve measurable differences in brain structure, connectivity, and cognitive processing. These differences profoundly affect our attention, communication, emotional regulation, and daily functioning.
For many individuals, a diagnosis provides not an excuse but an explanation. Through understanding and recognizing these differences, important support networks which offer accommodations and a sense of belonging have become more readily available to autistic people. To dismiss autism, ADHD, and other neurodivergent diagnoses outright risks greatly trivialises my struggles and others, who depend on recognition to navigate education, employment, and relationships.
Moreover, Hopkins’ remarks illustrate a tension between personal privilege and public responsibility. As a wealthy, successful artist, he can afford to treat his idiosyncrasies as part of the “human condition.” Yet for individuals without similar privilege, untreated or unrecognized ADHD or autism can lead to social exclusion, underachievement, and mental health difficulties. When someone of Hopkins’ stature labels these conditions “fashionable,” it inadvertently reinforces harmful stereotypes—that neurodivergent people are merely “making excuses” or seeking attention. And while it’s important to recognise people like that certainly exist, I don’t personally think Hopkins is speaking with that level of nuance or understanding.
Such attitudes can deepen stigma and discourage those in need from seeking help, exactly as the ADHD Foundation warned.
It is also worth noting that Hopkins’ comments ignore the positive potential of diagnosis. For many people, finally being diagnosed in adulthood brings relief and self-understanding after years of confusion or shame. It allows them to access therapeutic strategies, medication, and supportive communities. In contrast, the notion that neurodevelopmental conditions are simply part of “living” can invalidate those experiences and perpetuate the myth that individuals should simply “cope” rather than seek support.
In fairness, Hopkins’ critique does raise an important question about the balance between celebrating neurodiversity and avoiding over-labelling. Society must indeed be cautious not to reduce every human trait to a medical condition. But this also means validating the realities of those with real neurodiversity, respecting scientific understanding and recognizing the barriers within society that a neurodiverse person faces.
For me, a more constructive contribution comment would have acknowledged that while labels can be overused or misapplied, they also play a crucial role in recognizing and supporting genuine neurological differences. While his call to embrace the full, messy humanity in us all is worth hearing, it should coexist with empathy for those whose differences are not merely “fashion” but an intrinsic part of who we are. We are indeed all human, but this should come with an understanding that everyone has different needs and abilities fundamentally, which is what accessibility and inclusivity is all about.