Sia's ex-husband, Dan Bernard, is demanding more than $260.000 a month to maintain their "upper-class" lifestyle after their divorce. The singer has not responded publicly.
Η Both, the woman behind some of the most recognizable pop hits of the past two decades, is back in the spotlight — this time not for a song or a music video, but for a court case that looks like it came straight out of a Hollywood movie. Her ex-husband, Dan Bernard, is seeking more than $260.000 a month in alimony, claiming he needs the money to maintain the “upper-class” lifestyle he enjoyed while he was married to the singer.
According to court documents filed on October 10, Bernad – a former radiation oncologist – claims he gave up his career at Sia’s urging to focus on their life together and open a ketamine clinic with her in Los Angeles. But now, he claims, he has no income, his medical degree has expired and he needs financial support to “get his life back on track.”
Read also: Sia & Cypress Hill – “Street x Street”: The ultimate collaboration for the new LAFC anthem
Sia and Dan Bernad married in 2022 in a private ceremony, away from the spotlight. A year later, the singer filed for divorce, citing “incompatibility of character.” The two have a 17-month-old son, Somersault, and sources say Sia has sole custody.
However, the most impressive part of the case is the amount of money her ex-husband is asking for. Bernad says he needs $250.856 a month to maintain the lifestyle they had together – a lifestyle that included private jet travel, lavish dinners, a full-time staff and a host of amenities that, he claims, “represent his everyday life” while he was married to Sia.
"I am financially dependent on Sia, who was the sole financial support of our family," he says in his petition. "I ask the court to grant me temporary alimony so that I can maintain the same standard of living."
Read also: Jennifer Lopez on Bad Bunny: "Give him a chance!" – The response to the reactions to Super Bow
According to his testimony, Bernad claims that he abandoned his medical career at the urging of Sia, who, as he says, “didn’t relate to the endless hours” he worked as a doctor. In 2021, shortly before they got married, they opened a ketamine clinic together, investing time and money in the project. Bernad claims that Sia suddenly cut off funding, leaving him with no income and no professional outlet.
“I have no money in my bank account and I can’t return to medicine without going through a multi-year recertification process,” he says. “I need support to get back on my feet.”
Read also: Madonna: “Bedtime Stories – The Untold Chapter” Relives the Romantic Era of the '90s
In addition to monthly alimony, Bernad is also asking Sia to pay him $500.000 in legal fees, in order to, as he says, “level the playing field” between them in the divorce proceedings. Although the court has not yet ruled, the case has already sparked discussions on social media about whether his request is justified or excessive.
Sia, who has been careful to keep her personal life out of the public eye for years, has not made any public statement on the matter. Her representatives, according to the Billboard, did not respond to requests for comment.
Despite her silence, those who know Sia speak of a woman who tries to manage her life away from the spotlight. The artist, known for her explosive creativity and the timeless success of songs like "Candlestick", "Elastic Heart" and “Cheap Thrills”, has gone through other difficult periods personally, but always manages to come back stronger.
Her audience has loved her not only for her voice and talent, but also for the honesty and sensitivity with which she approaches everything. From the addictive pop of her hits to her personal struggles with mental health, Sia has built an authentic connection with her audience – which may be why the news of her divorce has generated so much interest.
On social media, the comments have not stopped: some argue that Sia should not have to support her ex-husband, while others argue that, if he really gave up his career for her, he has a fair argument. The internet has been divided in two – as it always happens when celebrities step off the stage and their human side is revealed.
Sia, however, is no stranger to upheaval. From her days hiding behind wigs to avoid exposure to her current image as an outspoken artist, she's shown that she knows how to survive. And if one thing is certain, it's that, as always, she'll let her music speak louder than anyone else.
