Fake Proposal for Free Drinks Backfires Spectacularly Online

• Los Angeles woman’s viral video showed husband staging proposal at Hawaiian resort restaurant.
• The 17-second clip has generated over 38 million views.
• Couple’s actions behind fake proposal spark heated debate about ethics.

Who doesn’t love a round of free drinks? Well, everyone does but some people are taking that love to the next level by staging fake proposals to get complimentary booze and a viral moment. In 2021, a TikTok video went viral when a couple faked an engagement at a Texas club which led to enthusiastic cheers and free drinks from the people present in the club. Then, in 2024, two Texas teenagers also decided to pull the same stunt and targeted restaurants for free desserts.

Now, another fake proposal clip has gone viral. A couple recently took the act to the Moana Surfrider, a high-end resort in Honolulu, Hawaii, where they pulled off a faux engagement mid-dinner. Their video has led to heated debates online and while some are calling it harmless fun, others have branded the act as outright deception.

Fake Proposal

Los Angeles resident Jaela Bumpas posted a video on March 6 with a with the caption: “My husband fake proposed to get us free drinks last night.”

The 17-second clip, that was shot by an onlooker, shows the moment the groom-to-not-be drops to one knee and the crowd started cheering, whistling and applauding from their tables. The couple played along flawlessly by kissing and looking overwhelmed, as if they had just locked in there forever, and the crowd kept eating it up.

In real life, the pair were married for four months. When asked by an X user if they were successful in their scheme, Bumpas simply said, “Yes.” She, however, later told Today, that while they did receive free drinks, these were bought for them by another diner who ordered them margaritas, not the restaurant.

Public Reactions

What began as a playful prank soon became more serious when the truth was shared by Bumpas on social media. The post received over 38 million views, 27,000 retweets, and 462,000 likes – but also sparked furious debates in the comments.

The couple’s actions were soon denounced by critics. “You steal from the restaurant you were at, you’re proud enough of doing so to post it on X, and 347,000 people liked the post. Sad commentary on a lot of levels,” one X user wrote. Another added, “Deceiving people is not the win you think it is.”

Others found the situation to be amusing. “Lmaooo i love when people with the same sense of humor date,” wrote one supporter, while another noted, “Technically not a scam because you did get married.”

The conversation suddenly and unpleasantly shifted when Bumpas revealed the racist criticism they faced. “A lot of people reached out which felt good, but then it was also a frustrating experience due to the racism,” she explained. Bumpas, who is Black, said people used racial slurs against her husband, even though “he’s white.”

The stunt raises questions about the ethics of social media pranks, public ethics, and the sometimes toxic nature of internet popularity. While for some, the fake proposals are harmless fun, for others, they are manipulative moves that play on genuine goodwill.