Bride-to-be defends the proposal that divided the internet
When Erica Murphy posted her engagement announcement to social media, she could never have anticipated the response she’d find online, or the wave of vocal criticism over her fiance’s ‘simpler’ approach to the whole affair.
Erica had been preparing for a day at work when then-boyfriend Monta Homes proposed - through an all-important question scrawled on a torn sheet of lined paper.
The handwritten question had been left on the bathroom counter, alongside a dazzling ring and a lit candle, for Erica to find. She, of course, said yes, and immediately took to social media to share the couples’ happy news.
“So it’s been an amazing year with my guy,” she wrote on Twitter. “This morning before I left for work he left this in the bathroom for me to find. I said YES!”
So it’s been an amazing year with my guy. This morning before I left for work he left this in the bathroom for me to find. I said YES! #FutureMrsHomes pic.twitter.com/Yf5EijKrFz
— Erica Murphy (@EricaMurphyTV) May 1, 2023
Many rushed to offer their congratulations, gushing over the love between the two, and Erica’s obvious excitement. However, there were hundreds of critics who stopped by too, all too eager to offer their take on what they considered to be an “underwhelming” proposal from Monta.
“Umm…a note? Torn out like that?” one user replied.
“Congratulations that's thrilling I don't think anybody's going to accuse your man of being romantic though LOL,” said one, who seemed to be on the fence about it all.
“A text message basically as a marriage proposal? Not for me,” shared another.
Thankfully, there were those who were more than happy to rise to Monta’s defence, noting that proposals are - at the end of the day - all about the thought and the love behind them, not the spectacle.
“That needs to be framed and hung on a wall. Simplicity can be romantic!” one user wrote.
“I think this is awesome! There is no wrong way to propose. Humans know they’re human. It’s about the soul and the love! Congratulations!” another said.
“Sweet. Sincere. Genuine. Simple. Old Fashion. I love it. I would cherish that paper and have it framed! Congratulations! I wish you and The Mr. the very best!” one said.
And as one more put it, “I think this is brilliant and different and truly believe this relationship will last longer than any grand proposal”.
The negative take was disappointing for Erica, who admitted to Today that the attention was “one thing when you see someone else go viral and, you know, clicking and laughing and all that kind of stuff. But it's a totally different feeling when it's you”.
She took the time to “set the record straight” though, sharing that Monta’s approach had not simply been an after-thought, but instead a very touching gesture that had meant a lot to her.
"I had a really rough day the day before,” Erica, who is a journalist, shared. “I've never seen so many Confederate flags in my life. I was just, like, really exhausted.
"He had flown in the night before, and he was laying there with his boxers looking so comfortable, and I've just been in the battlefield.
"I was just so irritated. It was a carryover irritation from before.”
Monta told the publication that he had known Erica would be heading into the bathroom after him that morning, and had opted for his handwritten approach as "this is the type of person I am. I wanted to catch her when she least expected it.
"I know other people wanted me to get the blimp with 'the world is yours' and all that other stuff. But that's just, I mean, I could have done that. But I like this better.”
And it seems that Erica agreed, with the happy bride-to-be informing Today - and critics all over - that “it was very sweet. I mean, this morning, for instance, I woke up because I still have this piece of paper that everyone's talking so badly about.
“I woke up, he's back in Detroit, and I looked at this piece of paper, and I just smiled and said, 'Monta, you're so adorable', because I think it was really heartfelt.”
Images: Twitter