A former teen pop star from Thailand, now a yoga instructor and wellness educator, is suing Singapore Airlines after an alleged incident involving a wooden skewer in her in-flight meal. Briohny Smyth filed a federal lawsuit in the Central District Court of California in late July, claiming the skewer lodged in her throat and caused damage to her vocal cords, impacting her career.
Smyth, who performed under the stage name 'Briohny' in the late 1990s and early 2000s, alleges the incident occurred on a flight from Singapore to Los Angeles on July 28, 2024. According to the civil complaint, she was served chicken satay and claims she swallowed a "jagged wooden splinter" that had broken off the skewer. The splinter reportedly caused severe pain, choking, and distress before she was able to spit it out. The complaint describes the shard as being approximately 1.5 inches in length.
The lawsuit states that Smyth, who relies on her voice for her career as a singer, performer, wellness educator, and public speaker, experienced persistent pain following the flight. She is seeking damages for past and future medical expenses, lost earnings, and legal fees, citing emotional distress, physical pain, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Smyth had recently returned to performing. In an Instagram post on July 14, 2024, just two weeks before the alleged incident, she shared her intention to re-engage with music, noting that fear had previously held her back. She described returning to the stage with her children, one of whom played drums during a performance. Her music career in Thailand saw her release four albums, with one record achieving platinum status. She had stepped away from professional singing around age 21 after becoming pregnant.
Following her music career, Smyth transitioned to teaching yoga and built a significant following as a wellness influencer. The lawsuit against Singapore Airlines was filed after she had resumed some professional performances. Singapore Airlines has stated they are unable to comment on pending litigation.