What started as a quiet separation between singer Sia and her husband Daniel Bernad has erupted into one of many 12 months’s most fraught celeb custody disputes.
When the Chandelier singer filed for divorce in March after two years of marriage, the association appeared easy: Sia, 49, would retain custody of their 19-month-old son, Somersault Marvel nicknamed ‘Summi.’
However by late October, the narrative had shifted sharply.
Bernad, a former oncologist who left his profession in the course of the marriage, filed for sole authorized and bodily custody, accusing Sia of being a ‘critical and rapid hazard’ to their baby.
His declaration alleged substance abuse, a secret hospitalization, and barbiturate and benzodiazepine use. He wrote: ‘Sia’s conduct is reckless, harmful and demonstrates Sia’s utter disregard for Summi’s security and well-being.’
Sia, in her personal submitting a day later, known as these claims ‘completely unfounded and deceptive.’
The Grammy-nominated artist acknowledged her previous struggles with dependancy however mentioned she has been sober for over six months and actively participates in a restoration program that features testing and a sober companion.
Her assertion solid Bernad’s actions as a cynical manipulation of her historical past, not a mirrored image of her current actuality.
‘My restoration has been a cornerstone of my life,’ Sia wrote, asserting that she left the wedding exactly as a result of Bernad’s way of life – ‘nightlife and leisure drug use’ – clashed with the steadiness she wished for his or her son.
She accused her estranged husband of ‘weaponizing [her] previous sobriety journey’ to break her credibility in court docket and acquire financially.
Maybe most shockingly, Sia alleged in her submitting Bernad had been below investigation by the LAPD and the Division of Baby and Household Companies for alleged baby pornography discovered on his pc. She mentioned the investigation was closed and inconclusive, however maintained deep unease about their son spending time with him.
‘Whereas I perceive the investigations of LAPD and DCFS have been inconclusive and now closed, this doesn’t appease my considerations of Summi spending unsupervised time with Dan,’ she wrote.
The monetary undercurrent of the dispute is tough to disregard. Bernad is looking for $77,245 (£58,414) per 30 days in baby assist, along with $250,000 (£189,017) in spousal assist and a whole lot of hundreds extra for authorized and accounting charges.
Sia claimed she’s already paid him $300,000 (£226,818) since their cut up, and alleged that each try he’s made to safe extra time with their son has coincided with a monetary request.
‘Up to now, each request by Dan for extra custodial time has been straight tied to monetary acquire quite than a real effort to foster a significant parental relationship with Summi,’ she wrote.
For his half, Bernad’s submitting additionally consists of dramatic descriptions of Sia behaving erratically at a celebration in March (claims she denies) and alleged she was discovered with $15,000 (£11,338) price of ketamine.
Neither Sia’s nor Bernad’s authorized representatives have commented publicly.
Not too long ago, Sia has set tongues wagging after being noticed on an unlikely dinner date with a actuality TV star.
The hitmaker was seen leaving California’s Ca Del Sole alongside Too Scorching To Deal with’s Harry Jowsey, 28, strolling hand-in-hand.
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