A Melbourne judge intervenes after discovering an elaborate prank that led to an unintended marriage contract.
**Instagram Marital Prank Leads to Legal Battle: Woman Annuls Marriage After Being Deceived**
**Instagram Marital Prank Leads to Legal Battle: Woman Annuls Marriage After Being Deceived**
An Australian woman's wedding turns from a social media hoax into an annulled marriage.
A peculiar case emerged from Australia involving a woman who annulled her marriage after discovering that the wedding she believed was a social media prank was, in fact, legitimate. The 31-year-old victim said she was misled by her partner, a social media influencer, into participating in a staged ceremony intended for his Instagram followers. The truth unravelled only when her partner attempted to leverage their supposed marriage for permanent residency in Australia.
The incident dates back to September 2023 when the woman met her partner through an online dating platform. With no apparent misgivings, they became romantically involved, resulting in a proposal just a few months later. Following the engagement, the woman was invited to what she thought was a themed event—dubbed a "white party" in Sydney—and was instructed to wear a white dress.
Upon her arrival, however, she was taken aback by the absence of guests. Only her partner, a photographer, a friend of the photographer, and an officiant were present. Confused, she confronted her partner, who explained it was an elaborate prank to create content for his Instagram. Despite initial doubts, she was calmed by her friend's reassurances and agreed to "play along" with what she believed was a staged wedding ceremony.
Problems arose when her partner later requested to be added as a dependent in her permanent residency application. It was then that she learned their wedding had been genuine all along, and her name appeared on a marriage certificate she had never signed, raising further suspicions about the man's deceptive antics.
The judge who reviewed the case ruled that the woman did not genuinely consent to the marriage, highlighting her understanding of the event as a mere prank rather than a binding commitment. His judgement emphasized that she believed she was just playing a role to boost her partner's online presence. The annulment was finalized in October 2024, leaving a cautionary tale about the intersection of social media and personal relationships in its wake.
