Sia apologizes to people upset by ‘Elastic Heart’ video

ABOVE: Watch the video for “Elastic Heart” by Sia.

TORONTO — Singer-songwriter Sia apologized Thursday to people upset by her new video, in which nearly-nude 28-year-old actor Shia LaBeouf dances in a cage with 12-year-old Maddie Ziegler.

“I apologize to those who feel triggered by ‘Elastic Heart.’ My intention was to create some emotional content, not to upset anybody,” she said in a statement posted online.

Sia admitted she anticipated cries of pedophilia upon the video’s release.

“All I can say is Maddie and Shia are two of the only actors I felt could play these two warring ‘sia’ self states,” she explained.

In the video for “Elastic Heart,” LaBeouf is wearing only flesh-coloured boxer-briefs as he and Ziegler — both smeared with dirt — move around inside a giant cage and interact with each other.

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At the end of the video, Ziegler slips between the bars while LaBeouf  reaches out to hold her.

On social media, not everyone thought Sia needed to apologize.

“Oh people, you’re so gross. Thinking the new Sia video is about pedophilia. I’m sad she apologized,” tweeted Colette Lala.

“Anyone suggesting pedophilia in the new Sia video is an idiot. You can’t do anything these days,” complained David Day.

Ali EmJay tweeted: “Sia’s video was just about love between generations, ages, sexes one thing that was not was pedophilia.”

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Adiel de Villiers was “sad to see the negative response” and tweeted: “There is nothing sexual about this video. It’s about love and self reflection.”

“I don’t see the video as pedophilia,” opined Jasmine Lopez. “I see it as a father and daughter dancing together. Let art be art, people.”

The controversy is helping draw attention to the video, though. In its first 24 hours online, “Elastic Heart” has been viewed more than 3.5 million times.

Sia Furler, a 39-year-old Australian, does not appear in the video or in the video for her hit “Chandelier” (which starred Ziegler).