Sia says she feels 'responsible' for exposing young dancer to fame: 'I feel very protective of her'
WATCH How dance prodigy Maddie Ziegler went from 'Dance Moms' to being friends with Sia
Sia is clarifying the working relationship between her and the 15-year-old dancer she often partners with, writing on Twitter that she continuously checks in to ensure the teen is handling the stresses of fame well.
Her comments came after a Guardian article in which the writer Bonnie Malkin asked why is Sia has "rejected the spotlight, making her 15-year-old muse [Maddie Ziegler] the star of her live tour instead?"
The singer, who has spoken out repeatedly about her disdain for fame and has even donned wigs to hide her face while performing, wrote on Twitter Wednesday that "this article poses a question I have asked myself often."
"I do check in with Maddie weekly about whether she wants this, and assure her if she ever wants it to stop it stops," Sia, 41, continued. "It's a conversation we should all be having. Not just myself but all directors, stage parents and agents with their children, clients, charges."
This article poses a question I have asked myself often. I do check in with Maddie weekly about whether she wants this, and assure her if she ever wants it to stop it stops. It's a conversation we should all be having. Not just myself but all directors, stage parents and agents.
— sia (@Sia) December 6, 2017
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"Maddie was already famous when I discovered her, but I have certainly expanded her exposure and feel responsible for that," she added in another tweet.
Indeed, according to the Guardian, Sia discovered Ziegler after watching her on the reality show, "Dance Moms." The teen has more than 10 million followers on Instagram and more than 1 million followers on Twitter.
"I feel very protective of her and my goal is to empower her in whatever choices she makes," Sia continued. "Some would argue a teenager can't or shouldn't be charged with making sound choices for themselves and so I do try to choose the best for her always. But I think this is an important conversation."
With their children, clients, charges. Maddie was already famous when I discovered her, but I have certainly expanded her exposure and feel responsible for that. I feel very protective of her and my goal is to empower her in whatever choices she makes. Some would argue a teenager
— sia (@Sia) December 6, 2017
Can't or shouldn't be charged with making sound choices for themselves and so I do try to choose the best for her always. But I think this is an important conversation https://t.co/0k6bQ8EsvT
— sia (@Sia) December 6, 2017
She concluded by writing, "What I learned from Maddie is that fame affects her differently than how it affected me. I can only trust that she is telling me the truth. If that changes, we stop."
What I learned from Maddie is that fame affects her differently than how it affected me. I can only trust that she is telling me the truth. If that changes, we stop.
— sia (@Sia) December 6, 2017
ABC News reached out to a rep for Ziegler, but didn't immediately hear back.
- Star
