Sia Discusses Feeling 'Protective' of Maddie Ziegler and Hiring Her 24-Hour Security

Sia is opening up about feeling protective of her frequent collaborator Maddie Ziegler.

The 45-year-old singer-songwriter got candid about her experience with fame in a new episode of Sirius XM‘s Fierce: Women in Music on Friday (January 29).

“I had to just learn really, really good boundaries,” the “Chandelier” singer explained.

“And now I’m really good at it and if somebody wants to say hello I’m totally comfortable with that, if they want to take a photo it depends on what the situation is but I’m either totally comfortable doing that or I’ll say actually I don’t want anyone to know that we’re here, so how about a hug.”

Sia also said that she is “fiercely protective” of Maddie. “I provide her 24 hour security because I feel responsible for her ensuing fame,” she shared.

She revealed that often she will decline photos on Maddie‘s behalf if she gets the sense the former Dance Moms star is feeling overwhelmed.

“I can tell from Maddie‘s face whether she wants to do it or she doesn’t,” Sia said. “And so I either say, ‘No, you know, we’re not supposed to be in town’ or ‘We’re not doing photos today’ or ‘Actually we’re just having some family time.’”

However, Sia also added that she believes Maddie is “much better at being famous” than she is.

Sia came under scrutiny recently for casting Maddie as an autistic character in her upcoming film Music – she defended her choice in a series of tweets.