Manohara Odelia breaks silence, says marriage to Malaysian prince was forced and illegal
Indonesian-American model Manohara Odelia has broken her silence years after her controversial marriage, revealing that her 2008 union with Malaysian prince Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra was neither legal nor consensual.
In a detailed statement shared on Instagram, the now 33-year-old said the marriage was forced upon her when she was just 16 years old, making her a minor and legally incapable of giving informed consent. Manohara stressed that the relationship should not be portrayed as a lawful marital bond.
She urged the media to stop referring to her as the prince’s “former wife,” saying the term falsely implies a willing and legally valid marriage, which, according to her, never existed.
Manohara stated that due to her young age, she was neither legally nor mentally in a position to agree, adding that she was subjected to strict surveillance, isolation and intense pressure.
Describing her time at the palace, she said the one year she spent there was the most difficult period of her life, marked by the loss of freedom and minimal contact with her family.
Her statement has reignited public debate over forced marriages, consent and the protection of minors, drawing widespread attention across social and media platforms.