A California woman disrupted a picture-perfect proposal at a scenic coastal location last week, launching into a racist tirade.
Emmanuel Banuelos was proposing to his now-fiancée, Hayley Lugos, at a park in Laguna Beach when a woman interrupted the romantic scene. After footage of the confrontation spread online, she was dubbed “Proposal Karen.”
Two crew members were filming and photographing the location shortly before the proposal when an angry Orange County woman walked past with her dog.
The woman suddenly approached them and said: “The park is for people that live here to enjoy the park and have picnics.
“And they don’t allow events on the grass here for that reason.”
A female crew member, later identified as the bride-to-be’s sister, replied: “Yeah, I understand, ma’am.”
The dog owner then snapped: “I just called the police. They’re coming out here. They’re going to make you tear it down.”
The crew member attempted to defuse the situation, explaining that they would leave immediately after the proposal. The woman responded angrily: “I don’t care. It’s every single f*****g weekend and I’m sick and tired of it.”
A disgruntled dog owner, later nicknamed Proposal Karen, interrupted what was meant to be a romantic moment for Emmanuel Banuelos and Hayley Lugos
The furious Laguna Beach resident confronted the video crew as they waited to capture the couple’s picture-perfect proposal
After repeatedly demanding that the engagement setup be removed, the woman escalated by shouting: “Go back to Mexico”
Despite repeated attempts to calm her, the confrontation intensified. She continued insisting that everyone involved dismantle the setup and leave the park before the couple could become engaged.
Her anger peaked when a mariachi band began playing Hispanic music. She shouted: “Bullsh*t! F*****g Mexican. This isn’t Mexico either, you motherf*****s.”
She then walked away, yelling at the video crew: “Go back to Mexico!”
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Banuelos described the woman as a “miserable person” who was trying to ruin a romantic moment, telling KTLA.
Speaking to the LA Times, Lugos said: “It made me feel so sad that people still have so much hate and racism in them. When I saw it and heard it, my heart sank. It just left me distraught.”
The incident’s video surpassed 11 million views and one million likes on Instagram. “Mind you, engagements are not prohibited at this park and this proposal lasted less than 40 minutes,” Trinity Films wrote in the caption.
Viewers rallied behind the Latino couple, with many expressing shock at the woman’s racist remarks and others pointing to Southern California’s longstanding ties to Mexico.
A City of Laguna Beach spokesperson told the LA Times that officials were aware of the video and did not support hateful language or behavior.
Despite the racist outburst, the newly engaged couple celebrated their milestone before returning home to Ontario
‘Laguna Beach’s parks and beaches are open to everyone and are regularly the backdrop to celebrate milestones,’ the spokesperson said in a statement.
‘Because of their frequency, they can also affect the general public’s right to enjoy the coastline. Therefore, pre-planned setups and professional photography have specific rules and permit requirements.’
The spokesperson did not reveal whether this specific proposal violated any rules but added that documented proposals require a professional photography approval and that proposals with set-ups and structures are not allowed.
Banuelos told the LA Times he did not think he needed a professional photography permit because the videographer was a family member.
The couple said they returned home to Ontario, where they celebrated their engagement despite the hateful interruption.
The fiancée’s sister also said that police never arrived.
The Daily Mail contacted the Laguna Beach Police Department for comment.
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