‘If He Wanted to He Would?’: Man Proposed to Girlfriend Via Satellite From Prison

cathybara Published 02/19/2024 in feels

In what is perhaps the most memorable example of “if he wanted to, he would," the idea that the only thing stopping your man from going above and beyond is the fact that he simply doesn’t care enough to, a woman shared a video of her fiancé, the rapper Yatta, proposing to her via iPad from prison.

@bellybelle_ 2.12 i got engaged to my bestfriend, my person, the love of my life, my life partner that i cant imagine being without. The sleepless nights without you, the anxiety i get worrying about you, the ups n downs we been through, the time apart.. This s—t dont get easy, some days are harder than others but youre worth everything. To be loved by you is the biggest blessing within itself. I love you so much baby. #teamus #freehim #freemyman ♬ original sound - fantasyfilm

The proposal looks beautiful: by a lake, at sunset, with a heart-shaped floral arrangement, countless candles and flowers, and the words "MARRY ME" in massive lit-up letters. All that’s missing from an otherwise picture-perfect proposal is the proposer, who has been in jail since 2017, serving a 12-year sentence following his involvement in a 2016 gang-related shooting that left a woman dead.

Instead, Yatta dialed in from prison, and can be seen cheering with bottles of Gatorade while a violinist performs for his new fiancée, Belle, as she takes everything in. Sharing photos and videos of the proposal, Belle wrote, “2.12 I got engaged to my best friend, my person, the love of my life, my life partner that I can't imagine being without. The sleepless nights without you, the anxiety I get worrying about you, the ups and downs we been through, the time apart… This s—t don't get easy, some days are harder than others, but you're worth everything. To be loved by you is the biggest blessing within itself. I love you so much baby.”

Commenters were a mix of supportive and concerned, with many providing variations of ‘Free Yatta’ while others wondered why Belle would be so willing to tie herself to someone serving a 12-year prison sentence.

@bellybelle_ To answer y’all comments & concerns: 1. No I did not plan my own marriage proposal 2. To all the negative comments, you can’t even get some flowers from the gas station or a text back from yo mans, that’s if you had one. Mwah I see all the LOVE tho, thanks y’all Full proposal video, link in my bio! #engagement #proposalvideo #weddingtok #bridetobe #freemyhusband #freemybaby #freehim #prisonwife ♬ original sound - Belly belle

Belle later posted a video of her first walking up to the iPad in shock as her loved ones walked over and Yatta talked to her via the iPad. In the caption, she responded to people’s “questions and concerns,” writing, “1. No I did not plan my own marriage proposal 2. To all the negative comments, you can’t even get some flowers from the gas station or a text back from yo mans, that’s if you had one. Mwah.” She also shared a link to the full proposal video, which is on Yatta’s YouTube channel.