Australian singer Sia and her estranged husband Dan Bernad have become embroiled in a contentious custody war over their 19-month-old son, Somersault Wonder Bernad, with both parties making serious allegations against each other in court filings.
The legal battle escalated dramatically this week as Bernad, 47, filed for sole custody of the toddler, claiming the “Chandelier” singer represents an immediate danger to their child due to alleged substance abuse issues. In court documents obtained by media outlets, Bernad stated that Sia is “a serious and immediate danger” to their son, alleging she is “an unfit and unreliable parent struggling with substance abuse and addiction.”
The former radiation oncologist claims that Sia was hospitalized for two weeks in September and tested positive for barbiturates and benzodiazepines. However, the 49-year-old Grammy-nominated artist has strongly denied these accusations. In her response filing, Sia characterized the allegations as “entirely unfounded and misleading,” acknowledging past struggles but asserting that she has been fully sober for over six months.
Sia fired back with her own serious allegations, claiming Bernad was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Department of Child and Family Services over child pornography allegations. According to court documents, an agreement was reached in August to grant Bernad restricted monitored visits because of this investigation. Bernad has denied these allegations, claiming Sia “planted evidence” to intentionally restrict his time with their child.
The custody war appears intertwined with financial disputes. Bernad is seeking monthly child support payments of $77,245 and $250,000 per month in spousal support, claiming he has no income after Sia “ceased all funding” of their joint company, Modern Medicine. Sia has suggested that Bernad’s custody requests are financially motivated, stating in her declaration: “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.”
In a particularly pointed section of her filing, Sia wrote: “My recovery has been a cornerstone of my life and one of the primary reasons I chose to separate from Dan, whose ongoing engagement in a nightlife and recreational drug-use lifestyle is incompatible with a healthy environment for our child.” She accused him of attempting to weaponize her past sobriety journey to undermine her credibility before the court.
Sia filed for divorce in March after just two years of marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences.” The couple married in 2022 and welcomed their son Somersault in March 2024. Sia has alleged that during their marriage, Bernad maintained a “nightclub, party lifestyle” and spent limited time with their son, mostly in the presence of nannies.
As the legal battle continues, both parties have requested court intervention to resolve custody arrangements. The case highlights the increasingly complex nature of high-profile custody disputes where allegations, finances, and parental fitness intersect in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
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