Vanessa Morgan, best known for her role in Riverdale, has a lot to celebrate this holiday season. The actress announced her engagement to Canadian basketball player James Karnik on Christmas Eve, sharing the exciting news with her fans on Instagram.
“Merry Christmas Eve from me and my fiancée ???,” Morgan captioned a heartfelt post featuring photos from the magical proposal.
A Festive Proposal
Karnik, who plays for the Vancouver Bandits, proposed to Morgan, 32, at Glow Langley, a dazzling light festival in Canada, on December 21. The setting was perfect for the Christmas-loving actress, who was surrounded by glittering lights and a holiday atmosphere.
The professional basketball player made the moment even more special by presenting Morgan with a custom 4.64-carat oval-shaped engagement ring. The Brilliant Earth creation featured a 14K rose gold band and stunning blue marquise-cut diamonds in the shape of butterflies—a design that left Morgan completely in awe.
“James knows how much I love Christmas, especially all the festive lights, so he took me to the Langley Glow Light Festival,” Morgan shared with People.
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A Magical and Unexpected Moment
Morgan admitted the proposal took her by surprise. “It was a complete shock,” she revealed, explaining she had assumed Karnik would pop the question on Christmas Day.
Adding to the suspense was Karnik’s recent foot injury, which required him to use crutches. “I asked him if he was sure he wanted to walk around on crutches, and he said, ‘For you, I’ll do it. I know how much you love this,’” Morgan said. “It seemed a little suspicious, but I didn’t think much of it.”
As they walked through the festival, Karnik suddenly set his crutches aside and knelt down, pretending to adjust his shoe. That was the moment Morgan realized something extraordinary was about to happen.
“When I saw the ring, it was just stunning,” Morgan gushed. “In that magical moment, with the lights all around us, it was the best Christmas present ever.”
A Growing Family
The engagement is another joyful chapter for Morgan and Karnik, who recently welcomed their first child together, a baby girl named Kaia, in July. The couple shared the happy news on Instagram with a series of adorable family photos.
Morgan is also a proud mom to her 3-year-old son, River, from her previous marriage to Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Michael Kopech. The actress and Kopech were engaged in 2019 and tied the knot in January 2020, but their relationship ended six months later while Morgan was pregnant with River.
A Bright Future
As Morgan and Karnik prepare to celebrate their upcoming nuptials, the couple is looking forward to building a life together with their blended family.
“This Christmas has been nothing short of magical,” Morgan shared. “I’m so excited for this next chapter with James and our little family.”
Fans and friends alike have flooded Morgan’s social media with congratulatory messages, celebrating the actress’s engagement and the love she’s found with Karnik. It’s safe to say this Christmas will be one for the books for Vanessa Morgan and her growing family.
