Australian songstress Sia ‘saved’ protege Maddie Ziegler from convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein

Sia has revealed she stopped child entertainer Maddie Ziegler from boarding a plane with convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein.

The 44-year-old Adelaide raised singer spoke of her “protectiveness” of the young dancer, who is a steady figure alongside Sia at many of her public appearances, and in her music videos.

“You know I kept her off a plane that Harvey Weinstein tried to get her on,” Sia revealed on the Zach Sang Song.

“I know there’s times where my insight has really made a difference, like kept her safe, yeah that was really disgusting.

“When he invited her, that’s when I called, I told (Ziegler’s mother) Melissa, I had to. I just said, ‘please, don’t, do not do that, do not do that, do not do that.”

Weinstein is currently seeing out a 23 year sentence in prison after being convicted of sexual assault and rape in the third degree.

The Chandelier singer then went on to explain how she had become protective of the youngster over the years, even discouraging her from taking on movie roles.

“She was offered a part in a film and I felt that the film wasn’t good enough for her,” Sia confessed.

“It’s not good for her long term credibility. This is not a good co-star to be in a movie with. So I just try and help guide.

“I can be a pain in the butt. I think her manager thinks I’m a real pain in the butt, I’m sure.”

In the same interview, the singer admitted she “threw this child into the spotlight,” prompting her motherly like instincts over Ziegler— who first appeared in Sia’s chandelier music clip when she was 11.

Since then, Ziegler has taken on a childlike persona of Sia’s, appearing in her music videos Elastic Heart, Big Girls Cry, Cheap Thrills, The Greatest, Thunderclouds and No New Friends.