Kazakhstani singer Say Mo received an unexpected marriage proposal right during her performance at the Media Basket Almaty tournament. Judging by the video from the event, the girl was not ready for such a turn of events, and social media users are now discussing whether it was a genuine declaration of love or a spectacular stunt for hype, reports infohub.kz.
Evgeny Bulatov, president of Media Basket Almaty and owner of the basketball club "Irbis," approached the artist during the event, knelt on one knee, and presented her with a huge bouquet of dollar bills along with a Cartier box.
Say Mo is visibly surprised and continues to hold the microphone. Judging by the video, she did not expect such a turn of events. Those around her are filming the scene on their phones. However, Say Mo immediately gave a firm refusal on the spot.
The video quickly spread across social media, and Bulatov himself added fuel to the fire by posting the footage with the caption: "What do you think, did I do the right thing?" Based on the artist's reaction, viewers concluded that the proposal caught her off guard, and the atmosphere on the court seemed extremely tense.
After the video was published, users were divided in their opinions. Some called the man's act bold and romantic, while others considered the situation staged. Some commenters suggested that the proposal could have been part of the show and a way to attract additional attention to the tournament.
Others condemned the man for putting the singer in an awkward position in front of a large audience.
"She is mature, didn't look at the surroundings, remained honest"
"What did she answer, let us know"
"Was this serious?" — users write.
Say Mo herself does not directly confirm a romantic relationship with Bulatov, leaving fans to guess whether it was a failed pick-up attempt or a planned PR stunt for reach.
Media Basket Almaty takes place in Almaty with the participation of Freedom. The event combines basketball, media, music, and show, and among its participants are bloggers, artists, entrepreneurs, and other media personalities.
Earlier, Kursiv LifeStyle wrote that Kazakh blogger and businesswoman Aisaule Bakytbek organized a grand toi in honor of her husband Alisher Kaidarov's birthday. Relatives and celebrity guests gathered at the celebration in Astana, and Bakytbek herself dedicated a musical performance to her spouse.