WATCH: Kanye's Interview Hours Before Engagement
Hours before Kanye West proposed to Kim Kardashian in a rented-out baseball stadium in San Francisco, the performer was in Beverly Hills, presenting an award to 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen at the Hollywood Film Awards.
ET caught up with McQueen and Kanye backstage at the awards, where the 36-year-old thanked his now fiance for allowing him to leave her and fly to Beverly Hills in order to present at the show, even though it was Kim's 33rd birthday on Monday night, Oct. 21
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"I'm thankful to my girlfriend, because today is her birthday," Kanye said with a smile. "We were on a job, and I had to explain to her why I had to fly back, on her birthday, to present this award."
The singer made no mention at the awards ceremony of his plan to pop the question later that night, but it wasn't long before a baseball field full of friends and family started sharing their excitement for the newly engaged couple.