Pesulap Merah apologizes amid polygamy controversy and public backlash
Thekabarnews.com—Marcel Radhival, an Indonesian magician and content creator better known as Pesulap Merah, has spoken out again about the polygamy debate. This debate has drawn significant negative...
Thekabarnews.com—Marcel Radhival, an Indonesian magician and content creator better known as Pesulap Merah, has spoken out again about the polygamy debate. This debate has drawn significant negative attention on social media. He posted the statement on Instagram. He also apologized for the controversy surrounding his family life.
Marcel said in his statement that he and his wife were sorry about the rumors going around about their home, especially during Ramadan. Additionally, he said that he makes mistakes. He also said that he is just a person who has problems with his marriage and family.
Marcel told his extended family to be patient when dealing with what he called “accusations that do not fully reflect the truth.” Moreover, he also said that people should keep their personal problems private because it is unwise and impolite.
Marcel says he has tried to contact his late first wife’s family, but they haven’t responded. He said that the family would rather tell the world their stories about what happened.
In his explanation, Marcel said that he knows more about his wife’s condition than anyone else because he is her husband. He also said that he would not tell family secrets, even though many people are pushing him to do so. Furthermore, he said that the public still doesn’t widely accept polygamy. He noted that Indonesia has a Muslim majority.
People said that Marcel had been ignoring his first wife in favor of another lover, and that was when the trouble started. For the record, Marcel married Tika on February 20, 2021. Tika died on January 27, 2026, from aplastic anemia.
Later, Marcel said that he had married Ratu Rizky Nabila in a religious ceremony (nikah siri) on September 23, 2022, without his first wife knowing. Pesulap Merah said he made this decision to protect Tika’s mental well-being during her illness. Additionally, he also said that Tika only found out about the marriage in July 2025. As a result, the arrangement caused problems in the family later on.
Marcel asked the public not to interfere too deeply in his personal life, but critics continued to voice strong reactions. Additionally, he said he would rather deal with his problems while still doing his job. This job includes campaigning against mystical activities that he thinks are bad for society.
The case has sparked broader discussions about marriage ethics, privacy, and public attitudes toward polygamy in modern Indonesia.
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