Ah, the internet.
Just when you think you’ve encountered every crazy, web-fuelled conspiracy theory going, along comes another one to totally blow your mind.
This latest one comes via Ryan Broderick at BuzzFeed, who reveals that some social media users in Brazil believe Beyonce has kidnapped pop star Sia, and is holding her against her will, forcing Sia to write hit sings for Beyonce.
Yep, you read that right.
These concerned Sia fans have started a hashtag on Twitter – #SaveSia – to raise awareness and to communicate with other believers.
What evidence is there for such an outlandish claim, you ask? Well, the conspiracy theorists are decoding messages in track listings…
https://twitter.com/Furlerlover/status/759297096088510464
“Beyonce Has Kidnapped Me”.
https://twitter.com/Furlerlover/status/759287566868840448
They’re also trying to decipher meaning in Sia’s more cryptic tweets.
https://twitter.com/siathestars/status/759166473831010305
@BibleGirl666 Beyonce locked Sia in the basement and she is being forced to write songs all day #SaveSia pic.twitter.com/N72RhH4uVE
— staff (@augstopereira) July 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/deludedbritney/status/758815959612129281
Some even believe that Sia’s disguises and wigs – which constantly conceal her face – are part of a strategy of hiding the bruises from her treatment at Beyonce’s hands.
HONESTLY.
Believers are appealing to American authorities to help the Australian star.
Hey @FBISeattle @sia is in danger, we need to #savesia from @beyonce
— pai de xbox (@gramich) July 29, 2016
THERE’S EVEN A SNAPCHAT SIA FILTER to help them publicise her plight.
https://twitter.com/ThiThi502/status/756702392654127104
The theory itself has uncertain origins – of course – but seems to stem from a quote that Sia gave in an interview in 2013 in which she described writing for Beyonce as a “writing camp”.
Somehow, this has taken hold in the Brazilian imagination, and metastasised into a belief that Beyonce is keeping Sia in an underground bunker where she’s compelled to churn out songs for her.
Truth? Bonkers? WHO KNOWS ANYMORE?
What we do know is that Sia herself is a fan of the theory, as indicated by her RT of BuzzFeed’s tweet about the story.
Unless that was Beyonce tweeting?
You can more of BuzzFeed’s bonkers explanation here.
