A woman in Australia has successfully annulled her marriage after discovering that what she believed to be a fake wedding ceremony for a social media prank was, in fact, legally binding. The woman, who was unaware of the true nature of the event, revealed that her partner—an influencer—had deceived her into participating in the ceremony to enhance his online content.
The shocking revelation came when the man attempted to use their marriage to apply for permanent residency in Australia. A judge in Melbourne granted the annulment, acknowledging that the woman had been misled into the marriage, with details of the ruling made public on Thursday.
The unusual case began in September 2023 when the woman met her now ex-partner through an online dating site, and they quickly became a couple in Melbourne. After a brief romance, he proposed in December that year. Just two days later, she attended what she was told would be a “white party” in Sydney, only to find no other guests were present.
Upon arrival, the woman was taken aback to find only her partner, a photographer, and an officiant. He confessed that the event was a prank for his social media, aimed at generating buzz and monetizing his account. Despite her initial shock, the woman accepted his explanation, believing a civil marriage could only be valid if conducted in court.
Concerns raised by friends were dismissed, as they reassured her that without filing a notice of intended marriage, the ceremony could not be legitimate. Comforted, she participated in the event, exchanging vows with her partner in front of a camera, thinking it was just a playful act.
Two months later, her partner urged her to include him as a dependent in her residency application, leading to the shocking revelation that their wedding was indeed real. She later found a marriage certificate and a notice of intended marriage that had been filed without her signature prior to their engagement.
Expressing her anger over the deceit, she stated, “I’m furious that I didn’t know that was a real marriage, and the fact that he also lied from the beginning.” The man, in his defense, claimed that they had agreed to the situation and that she had consented to the ceremony.
Ultimately, the judge ruled that the woman had been misinformed about the nature of the event, confirming she did not provide genuine consent for the marriage. The judge stated she believed she was merely acting in a humorous context, describing the ceremony as a prank. The marriage was officially annulled in October 2024, closing a bizarre chapter in this unusual relationship saga.
