Amy Schumer wants to show 'wide spectrum' of Autism despite husband's diagnosis

According to Amy Schumer, her husband Chris Fischer's autism does not define him.

In 2018, the 42-year-old actress wed the 44-year-old chef, who subsequently was diagnosed with autism.

Life & Beth, a television series in which Amy's character's husband John (played by Michael Cera) is diagnosed with autism, was inspired by her own experiences. Amy stressed that she wanted to highlight the "wide spectrum" of autism.

She told The Hollywood Reporter: "We really wanted to be respectful and show that when we talk about the spectrum, what that word means. It’s a wide spectrum, and this is part of it that you don’t often get to see: a super high-functioning person. And that that’s not what defines him.”

Fischer was a consulting writer on season two and Michael said: "[The character of John] was so alive on the page. And I think a lot of it is because Amy is so close to the character, and a lot of it does come from Chris, her real-life husband; though, not all of it. So it’s a very full, well-rounded character. It’s like a key that they discovered together, just a lot of things that were confusing to them."

He added to Amy: "Not to speak for you, but I feel like that came from your guys’ life, unlocking a mystery in a way. I love the way that’s channelled into the story."

Amy said: "It is a brave thing to do and to portray. Autism has been something that has been so stigmatised. Very few people share their diagnosis, and it’s a shame. And we wanted to do our part to say: that it’s just a part of someone. And it’s not this picture of that we’ve seen, of what we think that someone with autism looks like. And it holds people back from discovering this about themselves because they fear the stigma, and I really understand that.

"Chris is involved every step of the way. It continues to be extremely emotional, I think for all of us.”