In a candid and heartfelt interview with Hot 97’s Ebro Darden, legendary Jamaican dancehall artist Vybz Kartel shared the unexpected and very modern story of how he met his current fiancée, Sidem Öztürk, while serving time in prison — through Instagram.
The incarcerated musician, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, said the two connected online back in July 2015 when he stumbled across Sidem’s profile while scrolling through the comment section of one of his posts.
“Yeah, I met her on July 25, 2015, and I’ll never forget it,” Kartel recalled. “In prison, I was very active on Instagram because, you know, you have time. I was going through my comment section and saw this girl who always liked my pictures, so out of curiosity, I jumped onto her page and her DM.”
A Digital Love Story Born Behind Bars
At their first virtual encounter, Kartel admitted he was going through a rough patch with his baby mama, which made the connection with Sidem even more meaningful.
“I was also going through a lot with my then woman, my baby mama,” he shared during the interview, adding a personal touch to what many fans are now calling a “digital love story.”
Interestingly, Sidem Öztürk had been looking for him too — but like many fans, she initially encountered fake Vybz Kartel profiles. Kartel explained that she eventually discovered the real him via his baby mama’s account.
“She confessed that she was actually looking for me, but because there were a lot of fake Vybz Kartel pages, she jumped onto my baby mama’s page, and that was how she found me.”
Marriage and the Future
Fast forward to 2025, and the love between the dancehall superstar and the Turkish beauty is stronger than ever. Kartel announced that he and Sidem are planning to tie the knot this year, despite the unique challenges of their long-distance relationship.
“She’s at my hotel right now with my mother. We’re definitely getting married this year. I need some Turkish children who will talk to me and I won’t understand,” he joked, lightening the moment with his trademark humor.
Who Is Sidem Öztürk?
While not a public figure, Sidem Öztürk has garnered attention for her unwavering support of Kartel throughout his prison sentence. The couple’s relationship became public in recent years, and fans have praised her for her loyalty, with many celebrating this next chapter in Kartel’s life.