In a dramatic public gesture, the Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug proposed to his long-term, on-again-off-again girlfriend Mariah the Scientist during a concert in their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. The event took place on Tuesday at the State Farm Arena during his Hometown Heroes benefit show.
A Stadium-Sized Proposal
The 34-year-old artist, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams II, got down on one knee in front of a roaring crowd. The moment was magnified for the entire arena when a large screen flashed the pivotal question: 'Will you marry me?'.
Mariah the Scientist, born Mariah Amani Buckles, was visibly elated. The 28-year-old R&B singer exclaimed 'Put it on!' before turning to address the audience, declaring, 'I guess I'm getting married!'. The couple then embraced and shared a kiss on stage.
Observers noted the sheer size of the engagement ring, a gleaming diamond set on a thick, stone-studded band presented to the singer.
A Relationship Tested by Turmoil
This engagement marks a significant milestone for a relationship that has endured considerable public and private strain over its four-year span. Mariah the Scientist stood by Young Thug throughout his complex YSL Records racketeering trial and his subsequent 29-month incarceration.
The couple's resilience was further tested in September of last year when leaked phone calls from Cobb County Jail revealed Young Thug had confessed to cheating on Mariah. In the calls, he admitted to an affair 'the day before I got locked up' on May 9, 2022, with someone he referred to as 'one of my little girls'. The leaks also contained disparaging comments about Mariah and details of another affair with model Leena Sayed.
Following the leak, Young Thug issued a public apology on September 6, directed at Mariah. He wrote, 'My baby I was wrong and I'm sorry for what I put [you] through... [You] deserved better from me. Thank you for everything and I will do anything to make this work.' He concluded by asking the public to leave her in peace.
From Break-Up to Betrothal Amid Legal Battles
The path to this engagement was not straightforward. As recently as October 1, Young Thug appeared on a livestream with Adin Ross and suggested the pair had split, stating, 'I got broke up with, n***a, but I still got, I got a girl.'
The engagement comes shortly after Young Thug's release from jail following a major plea deal in his high-profile RICO case. Originally facing a potential sentence of up to 125 years on gang-related charges, he accepted a deal that requires him to remain on probation until at least 2039.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker delivered a stern warning, stating that any violation of his probation terms would result in the rapper facing a 20-year prison sentence. This legal backdrop adds a layer of intensity to the couple's future plans, as they move forward with their lives under the strict conditions of his release.
