COURTS AND CRIME
The “Chandelier” singer claims someone is emailing people in the music industry, posing as her and demanding material that’s not publicly available
Sia is hoping the Los Angeles legal system can help her expose an alleged identity thief posing as the famously private pop star to gain access to her unreleased material.
The “Chandelier” singer and songwriter has filed a new lawsuit claiming an unidentified Doe defendant thought to be living in California has been reaching out to music industry insiders over the last few months with illegal demands for “property that belongs to plaintiff or the person to whom defendant sent the emails.”
“Defendant has emailed a number of persons in the music industry with whom plaintiff is acquainted, including California residents, identifying him or herself as plaintiff, using an email address containing plaintiff’s name and fraudulently asking the acquaintances to send the person recordings of plaintiff performing that are not publicly available,” the complaint, obtained by Rolling Stone, states.
Sia, known for wearing an oversized half-black-half-blonde wig that obscures her face, is seeking real and punitive damages as well as attorney fees for the alleged email spoofing, identity theft and invasion of privacy.
The lawsuit is expected to give the musician – born Sia Kate Isobelle Furler – the power to obtain records from any email providers used by the alleged perpetrator to send the fraudulent messages.
Sia’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment early Tuesday.