That one time, Brett Lotriet Best went viral after asking Khalid Shawwa to marry him… with a little help from Sir Ian McKellen.
Global (11 August 2025) – Eleven years ago, my friend Brett Lotriet Best pulled off one of the greatest marriage proposals the world has ever seen. Well, yes, I’m absolutely biased because Brett is a friend… but also, this proposal had Sir Ian McKellen in it. As in Gandalf. As in Magneto. As in “You shall not pass!” And it popped up on my Facebook memories last week, so obviously, I asked Brett if I could share it again.
He said yes. Much like Khalid did. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Brett’s partner, Khalid Shawwa, is a massive Star Trek fan. We’re talking Captain Jean-Luc Picard obsessed (Patrick Stewart, if you’re wondering). So Brett decided to do a proposal inspired by those famous Love Actually cue cards. But with a twist.
He wrote out his story on a series of signs, ending with: “So I searched the galaxy for Patrick Stewart… and finally asked his best friend for help!”
Patrick Stewart wasn’t available but his real-life bestie was. You know, just Sir Ian McKellen!!!!!
Cut to Sir Ian on camera, delivering the most charming, cheeky message, “Khalid, I’ve got bad news for you. Well, good news as well. But Patrick Stewart is married. I married him… so he’s not available. The good news is Brett is available. So… think it over, do the right thing.”
If you’re a Star Trek fan and Gandalf just name-dropped you, you’d probably drop everything too.
The video ends with Brett holding the final sign: Will you marry me? followed by, I want to explore the galaxy with you. And that was it… the deal was done.
Khalid saw the video on his phone while sitting at a red light on the way home from work (don’t worry, he pulled over before watching). He rewatched it. And again. And then playfully texted Brett something along the lines of “I almost died”.
But when he got home, the first words out of his mouth were a very real, very happy “Yes!”
When Brett posted the video back in August 2014, it went properly viral. Media all over the world picked it up, social media exploded, and strangers in the comments were crying, laughing, and cheering them on.
One wrote: “I am smiling and crying at the same time. Beautiful.” Another: “May you both live a long and happy life together.” And more than a few declared it one of the greatest proposals they’d ever seen.
More than a decade has passed, and these two are still together, still happy, still proving that the best adventures are the ones you share. And this week, when the memory resurfaced, it brought back every smile, every goosebump and every happy tear from that day.
So, to Brett and Khalid, and to Sir Ian for lending a little wizard magic, thanks for reminding us that love, creativity and a sense of humour will always be a winning combination.
Watch the original proposal video below:
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