By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-05 09:36:33 | Updated at 2026-08-05 21:36:00
16 hours ago
A child pop star is suing Singapore Airlines after she claims an in-flight meal had a wooden splinter that lodged in her throat and injured her vocal cords.
Briohny Smyth, 44, filed a federal lawsuit against the major airlines in the Central District Court of California at the end of July, alleging that the chicken satay meal she ate on the flight caused irreparable damage, according to the civil complaint reviewed by the Daily Mail.
She was a teen pop star in Thailand and went by the stage name 'Briohny.' She had four albums in the late 90s and early 2000s but had returned to the stage just weeks before the dreaded flight.
Smyth claimed the bizarre incident happened on a flight from Singapore to Los Angeles on July 28, 2024.
She was served chicken satay and allegedly swallowed a 'jagged wooden splinter' that had broken off from the skewer, according to the complaint.
'The splinter lodged in [Smyth's] throat, causing severe pain, violent coughing, choking distress, and injury to her vocal structures,' the complaint stated.
She alleged that the splinter caused her to choke and she experienced 'substantial pain,' until eventually spitting out a wooden shard about 1.5 inches in length.
Briohny Smyth is a popular yoga instructor and former teen pop star. She recently filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles against Singapore Airlines for allegedly causing emotional distress and damage to her vocal cords after consuming an in-flight meal that allegedly had a wooden shard
Briohny Smyth was a pop star in Thailand and rose to fame in the late 90s with her debut album, BRIOHNY
Smyth alleged that on a 2024 flight from Singapore to Los Angeles on Singapore Airlines, she was injured by a wooden skewer in her in-flight meal (file photo)
After the flight, the pain allegedly continued to persist, and Smyth was forced to seek treatment, which she claimed impacted her career.
The lawsuit states that Smyth is a singer, performer, wellness educator, and public speaker who relies on her voice for her career.
The complaint claims that the skewer incident has resulted in emotional distress, physical pain and loss of enjoyment of life.
She is seeking damages for past and future medical expenses, loss of earnings and legal fees.
The airline told The Independent in a statement that they are 'unable to comment on pending litigation.'
Briohny rose to fame in the late 90s in her home country of Thailand. Her debut album BRIOHNY was released in 1998 and she released four albums and one compilation during her stint as a pop star. One of her records went platinum.
In an Instagram post earlier this year, Briohny said she quit the music industry at 21 after getting pregnant with her daughter.
She then toured in 2013 and again in 2024, but her last studio album was released in 2003.
On July 14, 2024, just two weeks before she allegedly swallowed the wooden splinter, Smyth shared on social media that she was getting back into music.
Just weeks before the Singapore flight, Smyth shared a video of herself returning to the stage with her son on the drums
Smyth released four albums and one compilation during her career. Her last project, Briohny be me, was released in 2004
Smyth gave up music to become a yoga instructor after getting pregnant
Smyth alleged that the wooden shard caused her severe pain and emotional distress, adding that it impacted her career
'Although I stopped singing professionally in 2004, the performer in me stayed alive as I transitioned into yoga teaching,' she wrote.
'Despite numerous opportunities and invitations from my record label, fear held me back. I dreaded that people would discover I couldn’t sing and was overwhelmed by the preparation required,' Smyth continued.
'But I wanted to share this part of my life with my kids, who are now old enough to remember it, and to push myself in a way that terrified me.'
She added that she performed on stage with her son on the drums and her daughter by her side, 25 years after her first album release.
After giving up a career as a pop star, Smyth transitioned to teaching yoga and became a popular influencer with over 300,000 followers on Instagram.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Smyth's representation and Singapore Airlines for comment.
