Chrisette Michele, the Grammy-winning R&B queen who gave us “Be OK”, just shared on Instagram that she’s been officially diagnosed with autism—and not just on the spectrum, but with what she’s called “severe” autism.
“I just learned I’m autistic. Official diagnosis. They used the word… severely.”…..“My life and its challenges finally make sense.”
She went on to share how she’s been live onstage “stripping the mask,” heal show by show, while giving herself room to process it all. The “mask”—the persona, the perfect performance, the unseen weight—something we Black women know all too well.
Chrisette’s journey has never been quiet. Remember the backlash when she performed at Trump’s inauguration in 2017, and the ripple effect that had? This diagnosis feels like another important turning point—a moment of radical honesty and self-understanding.
What feels most profound is how Chrisette’s story doesn’t just belong to her—it reflects broader truths about Black women and neurodivergence:
We often get diagnosed far later in life because masking was how we survived.
Our talent shines, but our struggles are dismissed—until the moment we name them.
Being diagnosed doesn’t erase your history; it helps explain it—and empower the chapters that follow.
Since she shared, the love poured in.
Comments like “we still love you—all of you” and “welcome to the severely neurodivergent club” are testament to how much visibility matters.
She said she’s getting more expert advice, figuring out where she falls on the spectrum—from severe to profound—and planning how to honor that path.
