Vybz Kartel, whose given name is Adidja Palmer, recently made headlines for confronting his wife’s infidelity in public when in prison for 13 years. In a candid Drink Champs podcast interview, Kartel shared his feelings when discovering his wife, Tanesha “Shorty” Johnson, was unfaithful when in prison. While it caused an emotional strain, the artist went out of his way to say he wishes her no ill, instead focusing on forgiving her and letting it go.
Vybz Kartel is one of dancehall music industry leaders, well-known for his lively rhymes and unconventional personality. His career was cut short in 2014, when he was convicted of murder, a case which stunned his public and fan base. Kartel was imprisoned for his part in the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams, for a term of a minimum of 35 years, for which time he is eligible for release on parole, although this is now reduced to 32 years and 6 months. His legal battles and efforts to appeal his conviction have helped sustain his fame, despite his imprisonment.
She is a major part of Kartel’s life, well-known in public as his longtime girlfriend and mother of his children. While in prison, she is a constant public supporter, maintaining the domestic relationship in existence despite his imprisonment. The relationship is a topic of interest among his fans, partly due to the stress of being separated for so long.
While on his latest Drink Champs podcast, Kartel opened about learning of his wife being unfaithful. He opened about when he discovered about it, however, and made sure to mention his attitude toward it wasn’t bitter and enraged.
I forgave her immediately, though, since I can identify, but I just needed to let it go. She bottled it for years, and she just couldn’t bottle it anymore, confessed Kartel.
His statement is in relation to his acknowledgment of hardships undergone by Johnson, who for over a decade had been left on his own. Instead of blaming her for her actions, his preference was in emphasizing her years of loyalty before finally weakening. He went on to mention that, in all this, she stood by him and followed his advice when in prison.
Kartel’s announcement sparked heated discussion among his fans and in public. His mature and tolerant attitude have been widely applauded, and his composure in dealing with it is being congratulated.
Few guys would ever act this way. Forgive and let go, it is a true act of strength, another fan commented on social media.
Others have questioned, though, his relationship dynamics, asking themselves whether his act of forgiveness is a gesture of true love, and not an act of resignation in his circumstances.
Would she have forgiven him, however, if it had been in his case? That is the question, another online poster disputed.
Relationship experts have weighed in on this scenario, noting an estrangement of this kind can take its toll on an otherwise healthy relationship. They say it is an extreme test of endurance for each of these individuals.
The case of Kartel is a matter beyond his case, discussing such concerns as adultery, forgiveness, and psychological cost of imprisonment on relationships. Celebrity couples face extreme public criticism, and cases such as this point toward the different adversity public figures experience. Comparable circumstances have taken place in the music industry, as well, since other celebrities, for example, Lil Wayne and Gucci Mane, have commented on the stress inflicted on their relationships by imprisonment. The ways these celebrities address such personal concerns create cultural discussions about loyalty and resiliency.
