Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel is reportedly engaged to Sidem Öztürk, from London, a social worker after proposing during an authorised prison visit in the summer of this year.
In an exclusive interview aired by Fox 5 on Thursday (September 27), Öztürk shared that the pair has been operating like husband and wife, calling each other ‘wifey and hubby”.
But, according to Öztürk, this was not enough for the incarcerated artiste.
“He was just, like, ‘Well, we are heading towards marriage so calling you wifey or you calling me hubby is not serious enough’. So he was, like, ‘You’re my fiancé. We’re going to get married’,” she explained.
28-year-old Öztürk studied psychology and lived in London as a social worker helping vulnerable adults and children. She left it all behind to move to Jamaica for love.
She describes the arrested star as her “angel”, stating that “he has an amazing heart that is so loving and so giving”.
“To actually be here in Jamaica, engaged to Adi, is a dream come true. I still have not processed it properly yet in my head and it’s amazing. I don’t even know how to describe how I feel. That’s how good it feels,” she shared.
According to Öztürk, the pair started talking in 2015, a year after the now 46-year-old artist was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his associate Clive ‘Lizard’ Williams.
But, they did not get to meet until 2019 when she travelled to Jamaica, to attend family visits.
The unusual nature of their relationship has been very difficult for Öztürk. However, she said she was determined to make it work.
“When you know what you want and you know where your heart is at, it’s not that difficult, so I’m willing to wait,” said Öztürk.
She added that the relationship is not perfect as the pair have to communicate through a glass wall, but they are “making the most of it”.
Öztürk, according to Fox 5, has reportedly captured Kartel’s heart and is said to be the muse and inspiration behind his new EP, True Religion, was released on September 30.
Since his conviction, Kartel has maintained his innocence.
Fox 5 noted that, in light of information suggesting evidence was tampered with, Kartel’s attorney, Isat Buchanan is hoping for a positive outcome from an appeal to Jamaica’s highest court, the United Kingdom-based Privy Council.
If all goes well, Öztürk will be hoping to live a normal life with her fiancé if he is released from prison.
Buchanan has said that Kartel and the other four men convicted in the case were innocent and that “several things went wrong in that trial”.
“Love just wins. His love is so strong it takes over everything and to know Adi is to love Adi,” shared a blushing Öztürk.
