Vybz Kartel Wife? Sidem Öztürk, Past Marriage and Family
At a glance
- 2015Sidem starts writing to him
- 2006First marriage, Stacy Elliott
- 7Children before the new baby
- 2024Released from prison
Vybz Kartel is not married as of October 2026. He is engaged to Sidem Öztürk, who began writing to him in prison in 2015. He was married to Stacy Elliott from 2006 for about two years. The couple announced a baby on the way in August 2026.
Profile
| Real name | Adidja Azim Palmer |
|---|---|
| Born | January 7, 1976 |
| Job | Dancehall artist |
| Status | Engaged |
Family
| Fiancée | Sidem Öztürk |
|---|---|
| Ex-wife | Stacy Elliott, 2006 |
| Long partner | Tanesha 'Shorty' Johnson |
| Children | Seven, one more expected |
Career
| 2014 | Life sentence |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Conviction quashed, released |
| 2025 | MOBO Awards red carpet |
Rumors
| What people say | That he already married Sidem in 2025. |
|---|---|
| Little known fact | His first proposal to her had no ring. |
Did you know
Vybz Kartel proposed to Sidem Öztürk twice: once in prison in 2022 and again in 2024.
Rumor check
Did they marry in February 2025? No wedding has been reported.
Vybz Kartel wife searches jumped after his release from prison in July 2024 [1]. As of October 2026, he is not married [5]. He is engaged to Sidem Öztürk, a former London social worker [2] [5].
He was married once before [3]. In 2006 he wed a New York bank supervisor in a private ceremony in Kingston, and they divorced about two years later [3].
Below is the full timeline, from Shorty to the news he shared on stage in England in August 2026.
Vybz Kartel wife status: is he married?
Is Vybz Kartel married? No. As of January 2026, the couple had still not announced a wedding date [4]. In August 2026 the Jamaica Gleaner still called Öztürk his fiancée [5].
Kartel has talked about a wedding many times. He first said it would be on his birthday, January 7, 2025, then pushed it to February so both families could travel [6]. In April 2025 he told Hot 97 they were definitely getting married that year [7]. No ceremony has been reported since.
Who is Sidem Öztürk, the Vybz Kartel fiancee?
Sidem Ozturk, often spelled Öztürk, is a Londoner of Turkish descent who studied psychology and worked as a social worker [2] [3]. She began writing to Kartel in 2015, while he was in prison, and first met him in person in Jamaica in 2019 [2].
He proposed during a prison visit in the summer of 2022. There was no ring at the time [2]. In November 2024, a few months after his release, he proposed again on one knee and posted the video [3].
You were there when I needed you most, and I’ll never leave you, baby. [3]
Vybz Kartel to Sidem Öztürk, November 2024
The two also run a YouTube channel together called Kiss Me Baby [3].
His first marriage, to Stacy Elliott
Kartel married Stacy Elliott, a New York bank supervisor, in 2006 [3]. The ceremony was held before a marriage officer at the Registrar General’s office in Cross Roads, Kingston [3].
They divorced about two years later [3]. Elliott has stayed out of the public eye, so little else is on record.
Shorty, the mother of three of his children
Before Öztürk, his best known partner was Tanesha Johnson, known as Shorty [1]. She is the mother of three of his children [1].
Kartel has seven children in total from several relationships [1]. Two of his sons perform music too [1]. We have not named the children here.
Baby news in August 2026
On August 2, 2026, Kartel brought Öztürk on stage at the Reggae Land festival in Milton Keynes, England [5]. He announced that they are expecting their first child together [5].
It will be her first child and his eighth [1] [5].
Prison, release and his music
- 2014 Sentenced to life for the murder of Clive Williams [1]
- 2015 Öztürk starts writing to him [2]
- 2022 Prison proposal [2]
- March 2024 Privy Council quashes his conviction [1]
- July 31, 2024 Released after no retrial was ordered [1]
- Nov 2024 Second proposal [3]
- Aug 2026 Pregnancy announced [5]
He kept releasing songs from prison, more than 50 in 2016 alone [1]. Other music stars with a complicated public life include Afroman and Nicki Minaj.
Checked facts and loose ends
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| Vybz Kartel is married to Sidem [5] | False; engaged only |
| Married Stacy Elliott in 2006 [3] | Confirmed by DancehallMag |
| Wedding date set [4] | No date announced |
| Expecting a baby with Öztürk [5] | Confirmed, August 2026 |
Reader questions
Who is Vybz Kartel’s wife?
He has no wife right now. His fiancée is Sidem Öztürk [5].
Was Vybz Kartel ever married?
Yes, to Stacy Elliott in 2006. They divorced about two years later [3].
When did Vybz Kartel propose to Sidem?
First in 2022 during a prison visit, then again in November 2024 [2] [3].
How many kids does Vybz Kartel have?
Seven, with one more expected with Öztürk as of August 2026 [1] [5].
Is Sidem Öztürk pregnant?
Yes. They announced it at Reggae Land on August 2, 2026 [5].
Sources
- Vybz Kartel (Wikipedia)
- Vybz Kartel gets engaged in Jamaican prison (FOX 5 New York)
- Vybz Kartel proposes to long-time girlfriend Sidem Öztürk (DancehallMag, Nov 2024)
- Sidem shares sweet words for fiancé Vybz Kartel on his birthday (ZIP103 FM, Jan 2026)
- Vybz Kartel, fiancée Sidem Öztürk announce pregnancy at Reggae Land (Jamaica Gleaner, Aug 2026)
- Vybz Kartel confirms he's marrying Sidem Öztürk (Capital XTRA)
- We definitely getting married this year, Vybz Kartel (Sleek Jamaica, April 2025)
- Photo: Vybz Kartel in Barbados, Barbados Today (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0)
