'I feel very protective of her': Sia responds to criticism of her role in catapulting Maddie Ziegler, 15, to fame while hiding from spotlight herself

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 01:58 EST, 7 December 2017 | Updated: 03:59 EST, 7 December 2017

One day after a British newspaper article questioned why she catapulted teen dancer Maddie Zielgler into the spotlight while herself eschewing it, Sia has responded via Twitter.

The Australian artist acknowledged it's a question she has 'often' asked herself since Ziegler, now 15, achieved international stardom thanks to her roles in Sia's music videos.

'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 tweeted.

Speaking out: Recording artist Sia responded to criticism for catapulting Maddie Ziegler to fame while opting to keep a low profile herself, saying she feels protective of the young starlet

Speaking out: Recording artist Sia responded to criticism for catapulting Maddie Ziegler to fame while opting to keep a low profile herself, saying she feels protective of the young starlet

Declaration: The Australian took to Twitter Thursday to explain her motives and why she continues to work with the dancer

Declaration: The Australian took to Twitter Thursday to explain her motives and why she continues to work with the dancer

'Maddie was already famous when I discovered her, but I have certainly expanded her exposure and feel responsible for that,' she went on.

'I feel very protective of her and my goal is to empower her in whatever choices she makes. 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.'

Maddie was eight when she started appearing in Lifetime's reality series Dance Moms in 2011.

She went on to star in six videos for Sia between 2014 and this year including Chandelier and Elastic Heart. She is currently touring with the 41-year-old from Adelaide.

Sia is rarely seen 'as herself' in public appearances, preferring to hide behind wigs and costumes. She cast Maddie in six of her music videos and is currently touring with her

Sia is rarely seen 'as herself' in public appearances, preferring to hide behind wigs and costumes. She cast Maddie in six of her music videos and is currently touring with her

'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,' Sia said of Maddie, 15, pictured in LA in August

'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,' Sia said of Maddie, 15, pictured in LA in August

Sia - full name Sia Furler - suggested in her series of tweets that the question of exposing a child or teen to fame is something that should be considered and weighed by all stage parents, directors and agents. 

She said: '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.'  

The piece published in The Guardian on Wednesday was titled: 'The Sia conundrum: if fame is so damaging, why pass it on to a child?' 

The piece published in Britain's The Guardian on Wednesday was titled: 'The Sia conundrum: if fame is so damaging, why pass it on to a child?'

The piece published in Britain's The Guardian on Wednesday was titled: 'The Sia conundrum: if fame is so damaging, why pass it on to a child?'

The author of the artist Bonnie Malkin had seen Sia along with Maddie in concert in Australia this past weekend. 

'Up on the stage in Sydney on Saturday, with Furler concealed and Maddie in the spotlight, it seemed that the superstar was deploying a child in a way that she herself refuses to be. Where Furler was hidden, Maddie was exposed,' Malkin wrote.

The article went on: 'Furler herself might not be willing to marry fame but standing on the stage in front of us, she seemed to be officiating another marriage. Not to a "perfect blank slate" but to a minor who is yet to learn about, or tame, the monster.'

Sia suggested in her series of tweets that the question of exposing a child or teen to fame is something that should be considered and weighed by all stage parents, directors and agents

Sia suggested in her series of tweets that the question of exposing a child or teen to fame is something that should be considered and weighed by all stage parents, directors and agents

Back in September, Maddie gave an interview to News Corp. in which she gushed about the life-changing call to star in Sia's Chandelier video.  

'I didn't know exactly who she was that well, being 11,' she said. 'So when I met her I was 'Wow, she's so incredible'. I thought I would do this one video and never see her again. But we became a dynamic duo.'  

Maddie's performance in Chandelier has been viewed almost 1.7 billion times since it was released in 2014.

That turn led Maddie to play Sia again, alongside Shia La Beouf in the clip for Elastic Heart while she also had a lead dancer role in videos for the Big Girl's Cry, Cheap Thrills and The Greatest. 

Already famous: Maddie was eight when she started appearing in Lifetime's reality series Dance Moms in 2011

Already famous: Maddie was eight when she started appearing in Lifetime's reality series Dance Moms in 2011

Cool with it: 'I thought I would do this one video and never see her again. But we became a dynamic duo,' Maddie said in an interview in September 

Cool with it: 'I thought I would do this one video and never see her again. But we became a dynamic duo,' Maddie said in an interview in September 

 

Comments 5

Share what you think

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

What's This?

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.