When Olivia Walsh posed with her boyfriend Gavin Hulberg at the Georgia Aquarium’s beluga whale exhibit, she had no idea she was about to be part of one of the internet’s most heartwarming viral moments.
Gavin, with the help of the aquarium staff, planned the perfect surprise proposal in front of the beluga tank. What neither he nor Olivia could have expected was the reaction of Qinu, a 16-year-old beluga whale who appeared equally stunned.
As Gavin got down on one knee, Qinu floated into view, her jaw dropping in what seemed like disbelief. Her perfectly timed reaction was captured on video, which Olivia later shared on TikTok with the caption, “The most perfect proposal I could've asked for.” The video has since garnered over 7 million views and countless comments.
“Even the beluga was shocked!”
The video has sparked a wave of joy and humor across social media, with viewers projecting their own playful thoughts onto Qinu’s reaction.
- “The beluga NEEDS to officiate the wedding now,” joked u/isa.
- Play-Doh’s official account commented, “Beluga has to be invited to the wedding.”
- u/Bob summed it up best: “Even the beluga was shocked 😭.”
Other users chimed in with their interpretations of Qinu’s reaction:
@withlovebyliv I’ve been interning with the beluga training team for the last 3 months so this was the most thoughtful way he could’ve done it 🥺 #georgiaaquarium #belugawhale #proposal ♬ original sound - withloveliv
A natural reaction
According to People, where the story was first reported, Qinu’s reaction was entirely unplanned. Katie Lorenz, associate curator of mammals and birds at the Georgia Aquarium, confirmed that “Qinu’s behavior at the window was her own—she was not intentionally trained to have any type of ‘reaction.’”
For Olivia, who has been a beluga whale training intern for three months, the proposal couldn’t have been more special. In a TikTok reply, she shared, “My fiancé is the most thoughtful person!! He knows how much I’ve loved working with the whales & truly made it the most special moment.”
Internet takes a deep dive
The video has inspired conversations not only about the proposal but also about the ethics of keeping animals in captivity. On Instagram, some commenters voiced concerns:
- “So wrong to keep a magnificent animal like that in a tank… shame!!!” wrote @alinasaballos.
- @naturaleclectic added, “Nothing cute or adorable about these sentient creatures being kept confined in glass houses for human amusement.”
Still, many viewers found joy in the moment:
- “Aww adorable,” commented @chanbien645.
- “Cute 😍,” added @101304dod.
A viral star is born
Qinu’s viral fame has also reignited interest in the Georgia Aquarium. For those who want to visit Qinu or catch a glimpse of her playful personality, the aquarium offers a live beluga whale webcam and behind-the-scenes moments on their TikTok and Instagram accounts.
As for Olivia and Gavin, this proposal is one they’ll remember forever—and they might even have a certain beluga whale as a special guest at their wedding.
Want more Beluga whale cuteness?
TikTok is filled with videos like these showing these adorable, amazing creatures.
@1minuteanimals Beluga Whale 🐳 One Of The Most Beautiful Sea Creatures #belugawhale #beluga #belugawhales #whale #whales ♬ original sound - 1 Minute Animals
@cosmothebigdog I went to @Mystic Aquarium and met Juno the beluga whale. She scared me so badly. I’m not sure how I feel about whales now. #belugawhale #servicedog #jumpscare #aquarium #funny ♬ original sound - Cosmo
ugly cry GIF
GIF by Emma Darvick