Cue the wedding bells! The Upshaws star Jermelle Simon is officially off the market. The Netflix actor is engaged to social media influencer Obio Jones, and their love story is as heartwarming as it is adorable.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the couple revealed their engagement and shared the emotional story behind the big moment—complete with family involvement, surprise notes, and a Cartier ring.
A House, a Family, and a Proposal
Simon and Jones had talked about marriage before, but nothing was set in stone—until April. The couple, along with Simon’s three children, had just moved into their new home together, and what started as a celebration of a shared life milestone turned into something much more.
“On the day we got the keys, everyone was looking at their rooms and roaming the home,” Jones shared. “We were in our primary room, and I had the kids come in one by one and hand him congratulations notes with ‘I love you’s and descriptions of what he’s meant to them.”
Simon, thinking it was just about the house, had no idea what was coming next. “I got on one knee, and boom,” Jones added with a laugh.
A Diamond Surprise
Simon was genuinely caught off guard by the proposal—something he admits rarely happens.
“I was completely surprised,” he said. “Normally, I would have some sort of idea about a thing. But [Obio] involved the children and everyone important to me, and no one said a thing.
Photo: Eric Hart Jr.
The proposal came complete with a stunning diamond-encrusted Cartier ring, which only added to the specialness of the moment. “Not only was I ready, but I was genuinely surprised, which almost never happens,” Simon said.
Engagement First, Planning Later
While the couple is looking forward to tying the knot, they’re not rushing into wedding planning just yet.
“We’re going to give ourselves another month to stop mistakenly calling each other ‘boyfriend’ and then jump into planning mode,” Jones joked.
Simon echoed the sentiment, adding, “I think within a month or so, we’ll decide if we want a wedding planner or not. For now, we’re just taking a moment to be present with it.”
A New Chapter After Coming Out
The engagement comes just months after Simon publicly came out as gay in a heartfelt video shared on National Coming Out Day.
“To the ones who feel like now is the time, to the ones who feel like maybe later, to the ones who may never come out,” he said in the video. “I want to say to myself, ‘Happy National Coming Out Day.’ I have decided to embrace myself fully—all the parts of me.”
Simon described how he once saw his sexuality as “the biggest curse” in his life, but now calls being part of the LGBTQIA+ community “the biggest blessing.”
“I have decided that I am enough,” he added. “And I want to thank everyone who has helped me get to that place where I feel seen, where I feel like I belong, where I feel loved.”
What’s Next for the Couple?
While there’s no official date or guest list just yet, one thing’s certain: love is very much in the air. With Simon and Jones now engaged, and Simon living fully in his truth, this next chapter looks as bright as ever.
And yes—we’ll be watching closely for those wedding updates.
