What began as a quiet separation between singer Sia and her husband Daniel Bernad has erupted into one of the year’s most fraught celebrity custody disputes.
When the Chandelier singer filed for divorce in March after two years of marriage, the arrangement seemed straightforward: Sia, 49, would retain custody of their 19-month-old son, Somersault Wonder nicknamed ‘Summi.’
But by late October, the narrative had shifted sharply.
Bernad, a former oncologist who left his career during the marriage, filed for sole legal and physical custody, accusing Sia of being a ‘serious and immediate danger’ to their child.
His declaration alleged substance abuse, a secret hospitalization, and barbiturate and benzodiazepine use. He wrote: ‘Sia’s conduct is reckless, dangerous and demonstrates Sia’s utter disregard for Summi’s safety and well-being.’
Sia, in her own filing a day later, called those claims ‘entirely unfounded and misleading.’
The Grammy-nominated artist acknowledged her past struggles with addiction but said she has been sober for over six months and actively participates in a recovery program that includes testing and a sober companion.
Her statement cast Bernad’s actions as a cynical manipulation of her history, not a reflection of her present reality.
‘My recovery has been a cornerstone of my life,’ Sia wrote, asserting that she left the marriage precisely because Bernad’s lifestyle – ‘nightlife and recreational drug use’ – clashed with the stability she wanted for their son.
She accused her estranged husband of ‘weaponizing [her] past sobriety journey’ to damage her credibility in court and gain financially.
Perhaps most shockingly, Sia alleged in her filing Bernad had been under investigation by the LAPD and the Department of Child and Family Services for alleged child pornography found on his computer. She said the investigation was closed and inconclusive, but maintained deep unease about their son spending time with him.
‘While I understand the investigations of LAPD and DCFS have been inconclusive and now closed, this does not appease my concerns of Summi spending unsupervised time with Dan,’ she wrote.
The financial undercurrent of the dispute is hard to ignore. Bernad is seeking $77,245 (£58,414) per month in child support, in addition to $250,000 (£189,017) in spousal support and hundreds of thousands more for legal and accounting fees.
Sia claimed she’s already paid him $300,000 (£226,818) since their split, and alleged that every attempt he’s made to secure more time with their son has coincided with a financial request.
‘To date, every request by Dan for additional custodial time has been directly tied to financial gain rather than a genuine effort to foster a meaningful parental relationship with Summi,’ she wrote.
For his part, Bernad’s filing also includes dramatic descriptions of Sia behaving erratically at a party in March (claims she denies) and alleged she was found with $15,000 (£11,338) worth of ketamine.
Neither Sia’s nor Bernad’s legal representatives have commented publicly.
Recently, Sia has set tongues wagging after being spotted on an unlikely dinner date with a reality TV star.
The hitmaker was seen leaving California’s Ca Del Sole alongside Too Hot To Handle’s Harry Jowsey, 28, walking hand-in-hand.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.