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Pop singer Sia and her estranged husband Dan Bernad are locked in a bitter custody fight, each accusing the other of serious misconduct while their 19-month-old son Somersault Wonder (nicknamed “Summi”) remains at the center of the legal struggle.
Bernad filed court documents requesting sole legal and physical custody of their child, asserting that Sia is an “unfit and unreliable parent” because she allegedly struggles with substance abuse and addiction. In the filing, he claims she was hospitalized recently and tested positive for barbiturates and benzodiazepines. He also asked the court to mandate frequent drug testing, limit her visitation periods and order participation in co-parenting classes and monitored visits. Additionally, Bernad is seeking approximately $77,245 per month in child support, along with full responsibility for the child’s medical, extracurricular and childcare costs.
In her response, Sia denied the accusations of current substance abuse, stating she has been sober for over six months, undergoes weekly testing and works with a sober companion. She described her past addiction as part of her recovery journey, which she says is longstanding and well-documented, but insisted it does not affect her ability to parent.
Sia turned the tables by accusing Bernad of being under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and the California Department of Children and Family Services for alleged child pornography found on his computer hard drive. Though she acknowledged the case was ultimately declared “inconclusive” and closed, Sia argued that the possibility of allowing Summi unsupervised time with Bernad is “not in his best interest.” Bernad strongly denied the allegation, calling it false and claiming he never visited the storage unit involved or had any knowledge of the materials in question, alleging Sia planted the evidence.
The custody filings also reveal that Bernad says Sia delegated the majority of caregiving duties to nannies and household staff, restricting his time with their son to brief, supervised encounters. Sia counters that Bernad has hardly been involved and that every request for increased visitation coincided with a demand for more money rather than a genuine push for guardianship.
The conflict has cast a harsh spotlight on both parents, Benard citing urgent safety concerns about Sia’s sobriety, while Sia questioning Bernad’s credibility and alleging motives rooted in financial gain.
