Sia and Husband's Divorce Battle Escalates With Shocking Custody Claims and Sobriety Allegations
The divorce proceedings between pop star Sia and her separated husband, Dan Bernad, are escalating in complexity.
Court papers acquired by Us Weekly on Tuesday, October 28, reveal that Bernad has petitioned for exclusive legal and physical guardianship of their 19-month-old son, Summi. Bernad sought “supervised contact” for Sia, 49, thrice weekly, in addition to demanding she undergo “unannounced and routine drug testing” and sobriety checks before every supervised encounter.
Bernad asserted that Sia “poses a significant and immediate threat” to their child. He further claimed that the singer was secretly admitted to a hospital for a fortnight in September, where tests reportedly showed positive results for barbiturates and benzodiazepines.
“Sia is an unsuitable and untrustworthy parent grappling with substance misuse and dependency, making her unable to offer secure or steady care for Summi,” Bernad contended in his affidavit. “I am the sole secure and dependable parent for our son. I am a physician, youthful, in good health, and possess no criminal record or issues with drug or alcohol addiction.”
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Bernad is additionally requesting $77,245 per month in child support, stating that he relinquished his medical profession after his 2023 marriage to Sia, choosing instead to establish a ketamine clinic at her insistence.
Sia submitted her reply to Bernad's filing on Tuesday, refuting his accusations forcefully. The documents asserted that Sia has “maintained sobriety for more than six months,” and that the Grammy-winning artist “has consistently consented to drug testing and asked for both her and Dan to undergo routine drug screening.” Sia alleged that Bernad “declined to be drug tested regularly.”
“It is accurate that I contended with drug and alcohol problems over fifteen years ago. I have been entirely sober for more than half a year and am following my recovery regimen, which involves weekly tests and a sober companion,” Sia penned in her affidavit. “My journey to sobriety has been a fundamental aspect of my existence and a key reason I opted to separate from Dan, whose continuous involvement in a nightlife and casual drug-use lifestyle is incongruous with a wholesome setting for our child.”
Sia sharply criticized her former partner for trying to “exploit” her “previous path to sobriety” against her in his pursuit of full custody. She further asserted that Bernad had supervised visits with their son stemming from a purported child pornography inquiry.
“I was notified that Dan was under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) regarding claims of possessing child pornography,” Sia declared. “I insisted, and Dan consented, that his time with Summi occur with professional custody supervisors present.”
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Sia mentioned that the investigation was “concluded” and its findings were “unclear.”
Us has attempted to contact both Sia and Bernad for their statements.
Sia and Bernad exchanged vows in May 2023 in Portofino, Italy. The couple privately welcomed their shared first child, Summi, in April 2024. Sia is also the adoptive mother to two sons she took in as teenagers in 2019.
Prior to this year, Sia initiated divorce proceedings against Bernad following almost two years of marriage. The “Cheap Thrills” vocalist cited “irreconcilable disagreements” as the grounds for their separation.
Should you or an acquaintance be grappling with substance abuse, please reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
