So lots of people have been suggesting that Onion’s behavior can be explained by autism. He is very certainly strange, no doubt, and I myself volunteer at a horse riding therapy for special kids, so I know autism.

The posts that support this idea make make very good points, he exhibits a lot of autistic traits. If you were to put him on a horse at the riding therapy I would’t question it.

But here comes the problem, I don’t want Onion to be canonically autistic.

Now hear me out. Steven Universe is famous for how representative it is and how positive it is of those groups. This is a very good thing, I appreciate how much diversity and love this show has.

But to have purposefully made Onion autistic would be very mean-spirited of the show. Think about it, it is reiterated time and time again how weird, creepy, and unnatural Onion is, all for comedic affect. Steven isn’t too fond of him, and Steven likes everyone. To have Onion be autistic would’t follow this shows streak of positivity.

All in all representation is nice, but not when it’s portrayed in such a negative light. It’s better off if Onion is just that weird kid and not labelled as autistic.