EXCLUSIVEMan's engagement post showing him on bended knee in front of his glamorous girlfriend sparks brutal backlash: 'Condolences to your wife'
A man's engagement post showing him proposing to his glamorous girlfriend has sparked brutal backlash online.
Addison Smith, 24, posted photos on Sunday with his now fiancée, Charis Edwards, 22, a senior booking producer for 'Lou Dobbs Tonight.'
Smith accompanied the pictures with a caption that quickly divided the internet.
'Pride month is so defeated. I love you @charisedwardss,' Smith said in a post on X.
Smith told DailyMail.com after he went viral: 'Just when we thought our engagement weekend couldn’t get any better, we triggered an entire army of libs in the process. We can’t think of a better way to cap off pride month.'
Addison Smith, 24, a former national correspondent for Newsmax, proposed to his girlfriend Charis Edwards, 22, on Sunday
In the engagement photos, Smith was seen on his right knee, dressed in tan khaki pants, and a blue floral button down, with a shimmering diamond ring inside a black box.
Edwards wore a short pastel pink dress with a large bow in the back, as she embraced her soon-to-be husband.
But the caption appeared to cause friction, with viewers flocking to share their reactions - many who are members of the LGBTQ community expressing how disrespected they felt.
'It's not really clear to me you needed to make such a beautiful moment about LGBTQ people, especially when we want y'all to find your happiness in family as much as we do. Hoping you find peace in this next chapter,' one said.
'Imagine proposing to someone and immediately thinking about how it affect gays. Which it doesn’t,' said another.
Another wrote: 'I send her my sympathies,' while another added: 'Condolences to your wife.'
Smith and Edwards brushed off the controversy surrounding their post
Prior to working at Newsmax, Smith hosted 'In Focus With Addison Smith' on One America News Network.
Smith shared stunning engagement photos of the two on social media with a caption that got the attention of many online. (pictured: The couple in June 2022)
'So what you’re saying is as you’re proposing to a woman what you’re thinking about is gay people,' another person commented.
Another said: 'This is so sad.. so very very sad. What should have been one of the greatest moments of your life and all you can think about is pride month.. Does she know?'
Shortly after, Edwards reposted his tweet and said: 'Make June Great Again.' Smith, a former national correspondent for Newsmax, then shared her tweet and said: 'Make June not gay again.'
While many people negatively reacted to Smith's post, he continued to share his views about his big day with the internet.
Shortly after, he posted a meme of Conor McGregor winning a championship belt at a UFC match and captioned it: 'To the gay libs that are mad because I got engaged to my beautiful wife-to-be during pride month.'
While many people negatively reacted to Smith's post, he continued to share his views about his big day with the internet. (pictured: The engaged couple in March 2022 in Del Mar, California)
He also reposted a tweet that said: 'Addison REALLY wants gay people to know that he is engaged to a WOMAN.'
In response, Smith said: 'Yes because she's awesome and being straight rocks.'
Smith also rejoiced in the attention his post got and said: 'Hundreds of thousands of views.'
'Endless angry comments. The libs are triggered. PRIDE MONTH IS DECIMATED!! HUGE WHITE BOY SUMMER W.'
Prior to working at Newsmax, a right-wing political station, Smith hosted 'In Focus With Addison Smith' on One America News Network.
He has been featured on Fox News, The Blaze, the Daily Wire, and more, Just the News reported.
His fiancé is a booking producer for 'Lou Dobbs Tonight,' an American political and financial talk show.
According to Edwards' LinkedIn, she also previously worked at One American News Network in on-air and writing positions.
Pride is a month-long celebration that takes place in June every year. It was inspired by the Stonewall riots- a series of gay liberation protests that took place in 1969.
The celebration is full of parades, marches, and many outdoor events that honor the entire LGBTQ+ community.
