American singer Brittany Porter is alleging she was unknowingly entered into a legally binding Islamic marriage with Sultan Muhammad V, the former King of Malaysia and current ruler of kelantan, after what she believed was simply an engagement ceremony. The case, which began with a whirlwind romance in early 2024, underscores the potential legal and cultural complexities that can arise in cross-cultural relationships involving international dignitaries. Porter claims she only discovered the true nature of the religious ceremony months after it took place,and is now seeking clarity and accountability following a reported abrupt end to the relationship and a subsequent miscarriage.
American singer Brittany Porter claims she unknowingly married Sultan Muhammad V, the former King of Malaysia and current ruler of Kelantan, after what she believed was an engagement ceremony turned out to be a legally binding Islamic marriage, according to reports.
Porter, 30, says she didn’t discover the truth until several months later, when the Sultan abruptly cut off contact with her.
The relationship, which began in early 2024, was marked by lavish travel and expensive gifts, but ultimately ended in emotional distress and her demand for a formal divorce. The case highlights the complexities that can arise when individuals from vastly different cultural backgrounds enter into relationships.
An Accidental Meeting Blossoms into a Royal Romance
Porter says she met Sultan Muhammad V in New York City in January 2024 through mutual friends.
“We immediately felt a chemistry,” she recalled, describing his wit and “sweet British accent.” Their connection quickly deepened, and within months they were traveling together throughout Western Asia.
“He flew me and my friends all over the world. He was so generous, choosing the best hotels, giving my friends the best service, experiences, and gifts. He loves hotels, he probably spent millions on our trips,” Porter told This Week in Asia.
Their first overseas trip together, to Oman in April 2024, seemed to solidify their relationship. Porter believed they became engaged during that visit.
“In my culture, the biggest ceremony is the wedding, which we were planning for January 2025. So I was shocked,” she said. “In Oman, they invited an imam, and I went through the entire conversion process, but he didn’t tell me much about Islam.”
„Instagram“ nuotr./Brittany Porter ir Muhammad V
From Engagement to Marriage, Unknowingly
It wasn’t until months later that Porter realized the religious ceremony she participated in was actually a “nikah,” a legally binding Islamic marriage.
“I only recently found out that a nikah is a marriage under Islamic law,” she said. By that point, the former Malaysian monarch had already ceased all communication with her.
In Malaysia, Porter was referred to as “Che Puan” – an honorific title given to women of non-royal descent who marry into the royal family. This title came with strict expectations, including a swift expectation to bear a son.
The relationship began to deteriorate due to disagreements over spending and lifestyle.
Tension, Loss, and Sudden Silence
The situation worsened after Porter suffered a miscarriage in July 2024. Following the loss, Sultan Muhammad V reportedly stopped responding to her calls and messages.
Porter says she later learned from a friend that the Sultan considered them “divorced.”
Seeking clarity, Porter began sharing her story on social media. “I never received any explanation or accountability. I deserved a proper divorce, a proper apology,” she said.
Porter also expressed shock at reports of financial difficulties in Kelantan, recalling the ruler’s lavish lifestyle.
Following the end of the relationship, Porter spent several months in therapy in the United Kingdom before returning to her music career under the stage name Brook Lynn.
