A 22-year-old woman turned to Reddit for advice after an emotional and awkward scene unfolded when her boyfriend proposed to her in front of his entire family — despite knowing she wasn’t ready for marriage.
She explained that she and her 24-year-old boyfriend had been together for three years since meeting in college. While their relationship was strong, she had always been open about wanting to focus on her career before getting married. “I’ve made it a personal goal to build something for myself before I even think about marriage,” she wrote, adding that her boyfriend was aware of her stance after “a few emotional conversations.”
A few weeks before posting, the couple attended his parents’ anniversary party — a large family gathering. “Toward the end, his dad gave a short speech and then handed my boyfriend the mic, saying he had something to say,” she recalled. At first, she assumed he was going to toast his parents, but instead, he turned to her, dropped to one knee, and pulled out a ring.
“Everyone started clapping and cheering,” she wrote. “I honestly didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to embarrass him or make a scene… so I said yes.”
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The crowd erupted in celebration, but she immediately felt uneasy. Later, when they were alone, she told him the truth: she loved him but couldn’t accept the proposal right now. Her boyfriend reacted coldly, saying she’d embarrassed him more by changing her mind later.
The situation quickly spread through his family. “His mom called me later and said I ‘led him on’ and ruined what was supposed to be a special night,” the woman wrote, insisting she never meant to hurt anyone. “I only said yes because I didn’t want to reject him in front of everyone.”
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Her story drew thousands of reactions online, with most commenters siding with her. Many said her boyfriend’s public proposal — after she had clearly expressed she wasn’t ready — was manipulative.
One commenter wrote, “Public proposals are awful, and I don’t blame you for freezing and saying yes. He just didn’t listen to you at all, did he? Not a great sign for a future together.”
Another added, “He got himself into this mess. Proposing publicly to someone who’s said no before is emotional pressure — not romance.”
