Glenn Weiss won the award for Outstanding Directing for Variety Special at the 2018 Emmys Monday night. But he’ll probably best be remember as “the guy who proposed to his girlfriend onstage during his acceptance speech.”
In what may be the most tear-jerking moment in award-show history, the Oscars director accepted his award, then turned his speech into a proposal to his girlfriend, Jan Svendsen.
After explaining how his mother had passed away just two weeks prior, Weiss detailed how he got permission from his father to use her wedding ring to propose.
SHE SAID YES!? Watch the evening’s most heartwarming moment. #Emmys pic.twitter.com/1ByFtnSpig
— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) September 18, 2018
“This is the ring that my dad put on my mom’s finger 67 years ago,” Weiss said. “And to my sisters and brothers, I didn’t swipe it. Dad knows I have it, okay?”
“You wonder why I don’t like to call you my girlfriend? Because I want to call you my wife,” he said. Naturally, the audience lost their damn minds. There was a standing ovation. There were Oscar-nom-worthy celebrity reactions (of particular note: Leslie Jones, Sterkling K. Brown, and Benedict Cumberbatch.)
Weiss finished his speech by saying, “Thank you to the Academy!”
Social media was just as thrilled as the audience members.
I AM DEAD. All the tears!!! And Milo helped her up??? Dead. #emmys ?????? #emmysenagement
— Kristin Dos Santos (@KristinDSantos) September 18, 2018
No one will ever beat this acceptance speech ever. The world is madness right now, but every once in awhile a moment happens that’s like a ray of sunlight through the dark clouds. This was one of those moments. Incredible and Sweet. #Emmys #GlennWeiss https://t.co/uxhRIUJB49
— John Steven Rocha (@TheRochaSays) September 18, 2018
#GlennWeiss BEST MOMENT EVER!!#emmys #willyoumarryme ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/1ZAQX1nBIj
— SandyLeeTV (@SandyLeeTV) September 18, 2018
“I don’t wanna call you my girlfriend because I wanna call you my wife” – Glenn Weiss #emmys pic.twitter.com/t6dawyG7nz
— Dr. Sámmy (@TheDrSammy) September 18, 2018
The Emmy goes to Glenn Weiss for the Best Reality TV moment of 2018
and Best proposal#Emmys2018 #emmysenagement #lovelove— Jimmyyyy (@anxiousIMJM) September 18, 2018
Hands down one of the best moments tonight was Director, Glenn Weiss proposing to his girlfriend with his mom’s ring. Congratulations on your win for Directing a Variety Special and your engagement! #emmys #glennweiss he’ll be trending for sure! pic.twitter.com/FJFnRjEe51
— danielle (@danielledshortt) September 18, 2018
who is the brazen glenn weiss and where can i get one? #emmys
— Elena Nicolaou (@elenawonders) September 18, 2018
Was 120% not expecting an engagement to happen on stage at the #Emmys
— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) September 18, 2018
Afterwards, Weiss spoke to reporters about the proposal backstage. He hadn’t planned on proposing on live television, but changed his mind after the death of his mother.
“It became a thought . . . the thought picked up steam as we got here,” explained Weiss. “This was coming. The timing just lined up very nicely, and it was a really magical moment.”
“Walking around on the carpet like nothing’s happening with this thing sitting in my pocket was very nerve-racking,” he added.