Sia filed for divorce in March of this year, citing irreconcilable differences. Photo: TNS
Sia’s ongoing divorce has taken a nasty turn as the singer-songwriter has accused her estranged husband of being investigated for child porn, while he’s accused her of drug use in part of the couple’s battle for custody over their 1-year-old son.
Daniel Bernad is reportedly seeking sole custody of Somersault Wonder Bernad, claiming their son is in “serious and immediate danger,” according to new court documents obtained by TMZ.
Sia countered that the boy’s father cannot have sole custody because he’s already limited to monitored visits due to a child porn investigation.
In the documents, Bernad claims Sia’s struggles with “substance abuse and addiction” have made her an “unfit and unreliable parent” who’s incapable of caring for their son. He also accuses her of concealing a recent hospitalisation and a positive test for sedatives and tranquilizers despite having no medical reason to take them.
“I am the only safe and reliable parent for our son. I am a doctor, young, healthy, and have no criminal history or drug or alcohol addiction issues,” he wrote in the filing.
Bernad is asking the singer be limited to two-hour monitored visits three times a week. He’s also seeking monthly child support of US$77,245 (RM324,145), claiming he’s currently unemployed and has “no income” after Sia “ceased all funding” of their joint company, Modern Medicine, in April.
He previously asked for more than $250,000 (RM1.04mil) per month in spousal support.
Sia reportedly responded to the filing by saying the couple had agreed in August for Bernad to be limited to professionally monitored visits after she was informed he was being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department and Department of Children and Family Services over “illicit child pornography” allegedly found on his hard drive.
Bernad accused Sia, 49 of planting that purported evidence.
The Chandelier singer admitted in the documents that she struggled with addiction in the past but has been sober for more than six months. She said she has repeatedly agreed to regular drug testing.
“Dan’s attempt to weaponise my past sobriety journey… serves no legitimate purpose and is intended only to distort the facts and undermine my credibility,” she wrote.
Sia and Bernad tied the knot in May 2023 and quietly welcomed their son in March of last year. She filed for divorce in March of this year, citing irreconcilable differences. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
