Sia is now embroiled in a fresh legal battle with Dan Bernad, as their divorce proceedings heat up. The estranged husband of the "Cheap Thrills" singer has filed for sole custody of their 19-month-old son, Somersault "Summi" Wonder Bernad, according to documents obtained by E! News on October 28th. Dan, 47, alleges in the filing that Sia, 49, is struggling with a drug addiction and is unfit to care for the toddler, who they welcomed in March 2024, just under a year before announcing their split after two years of marriage.
"Sia is a serious and immediate danger to our son," Dan wrote in the docs, alleging that the singer had "deliberately and repeatedly concealed" being hospitalized for two weeks in September. "She tested positive for barbiturates and benzodiazepines, with no legitimate medical explanation."
For reference, benzodiazepines are a class of sedative-hypnotic drugs typically found in anti-anxiety medications such as Xanax and insomnia treatments like Klonopin and Valium, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Similarly, barbiturates are sedative-hypnotic drugs often used to treat insomnia and prevent seizures.
Dan's request for sole custody isn't solely based on his ex's alleged drug use; he further alleges in the filing that Sia violated their joint legal custody agreement by denying him visitation and "unlawfully" transferring written power of attorney of Summi over to his nannies. "Sia's conduct is reckless, dangerous, and demonstrates Sia's utter disregard for Summi's safety and well-being, and for court orders," Dan said in the filing. "Sia is an unfit and unreliable parent struggling with substance abuse and addiction, rendering her incapable of providing safe or stable care for Summi."
Additionally, the former radiation oncologist—who left his career behind when the former couple got married in 2022—stated that his professional background makes him the "only safe and reliable parent for our son." He added, "I am a doctor, young, healthy, and have no criminal history or drug or alcohol addiction issues."
In response to Dan's request, Sia—also a mother to two sons she adopted in 2019—denied allegations that she was abusing drugs, calling the accusations "entirely unfounded and misleading," according to the documents obtained by E!. "It is true that I struggled with drug and alcohol issues more than fifteen years ago," the "Titanium" singer said in her filing. "I have been fully sober for over six months and working my program which includes weekly testing and a sober companion."
Additionally, she alleged that her "primary care and custody" of Summi was in effect since before they separated. "Dan does not work. Dan enjoys a nightclub, party lifestyle," Sia alleged. "This is another reason for my concerns about Dan as a responsible and appropriate parent. This was a pattern throughout our brief marriage." She added, "When he was in Los Angeles, Dan would spend limited periods of time with Summi and mostly in the presence of nannies."
