This latest viral video of a proposal gone wrong shows four distinct “don’ts” you should never do during a proposal. In the cringeworthy video, a guy proposes to his surprised girlfriend at a mall. He then serenades her to  “Sweet Caroline” (perhaps her name is Caroline?) and then asks for her hand in marriage. Overwhelmed and embarrassed, the girlfriend runs away, leaving her poor boyfriend looking sad and rejected in front of a crowd of people.

So here’s what went wrong:

Proposal Don’t #1: Proposing some place loud, noisy and unromantic

Public proposals are fine, but try to pick a place that’s a little more personal and romantic, like a theater or a park. You definitely wouldn’t want to propose some where that’s loud and tacky, like a mall, for instance.

Proposal Don’t #2: Not talking about the proposal beforehand

Most couples talk about getting married before the actual proposal, so even though the proposal itself is a surprise, the idea of getting married isn’t. Usually the girlfriend is expecting a proposal. This girl obviously wasn’t. Perhaps the guy figured he would surprise her 100%? Bad call.

Proposal Don’t #3: Don’t embarrass her

Public proposals only work for people who don’t mind being the sudden center of attention. If your girlfriend is shy or gets embarrassed easily, she probably doesn’t want to stand in the middle of the food court while being serenaded to “Sweet Caroline.”

Proposal Don’t #4:  Don’t embarrass him

Sure there’s nothing more embarrassing than an unwanted proposal, especially a public one, but leaving your boyfriend high and dry isn’t cool either. If you’re turning down his proposal, simply whisper in his ear, “We’ll talk about this later,” give him a hug and play nice in front of the crowd. You can let him have it later.