NEED TO KNOW
Sia didn’t want her custody battle to become so public.
The “Chandelier” singer’s estranged husband Dan Bernad — whom she filed for divorce from in March — was denied sole custody of their son, Somersault, on Wednesday, Oct. 29 after filing an emergency order earlier this week. Now, a source tells PEOPLE she’s “devastated” the situation has played out for all to see.
“She’s always been guarded her personal life,” says the source of Sia, who often covers her face in public settings. “She’s heartbroken that her ongoing divorce and custody battle has become public. She’s devastated that something so private has turned into a headline. She’s incredibly protective of her family, and this attention has been very painful for her.”
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The source adds that Sia has “faced some controversy in the past,” referencing the backlash her “Elastic Heart” music video received for featuring Shia LaBeouf dancing with a then-underage Maddie Ziegler, both wearing only beige undergarments. However, the source says Sia “has never dealt with anything with her child.”
“Her focus is completely on her child right now. She’s proud of her sobriety and the stability she’s created and she wants to shield her child. She doesn’t want it overshadowed by court filings,” continues the source of Sia, who claimed she’s “been fully sober for over six months and working my program” in an Oct. 28 court filing after Bernad alleged otherwise.
“She’s had a very public career, but she’s managed to stay private in a way few artists can,” says the source. “This has been very difficult, but she’s staying focused on her child and her recovery.”
The source notes that Sia has “been living in Los Angeles for a long time and has a really close circle of celebrity friends who love her. They’ve all rallied around her. It’s not some Hollywood thing — these are real friends who just want to make sure she’s okay.”
A rep for Sia did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Sia/Instagram
The court’s decision to deny Bernad’s request for custody of 19-month-old Somersault was backed up by the judge ruling that there wasn’t sufficient evidence to constitute an emergency order.
Sia — who also adopted two 18-year-old boys in 2019 — and Bernad will now operate under the previous custody arrangement, which gives the “Titanium” artist primary custody of Somersault and allows for limited and monitored visitation for Bernad.
