A California woman disrupted a picture-perfect marriage proposal at a scenic coastal park last week, launching into a racist tirade that was captured on camera.
Emmanuel Banuelos had planned to propose to Hayley Lugos at a park in Laguna Beach. But minutes before the romantic moment, a woman interrupted the setup and was later dubbed “Proposal Karen” after footage of the confrontation went viral.
Two crew members were filming and photographing the location ahead of the proposal when an agitated Orange County woman walked past with her dog.
The woman then approached the crew 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.”
One female crew member, later identified as Lugos’ sister, replied: “Yeah, I understand, ma’am.”
The dog owner responded angrily: “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 as soon as the proposal was over. The woman remained upset, replying: “I don’t care. It’s every single f*****g weekend and I’m sick and tired of it.”
A romantic proposal for Emmanuel Banuelos and Hayley Lugos was interrupted by a disgruntled dog owner later nicknamed “Proposal Karen”
The furious Laguna Beach resident confronted the video crew as they prepared to capture the couple’s proposal
After repeatedly ordering the crew to dismantle the setup, the woman escalated by shouting: “Go back to Mexico”
Despite further attempts to calm her, the confrontation continued. The woman repeatedly demanded that the crew tear down the proposal setup and leave the park before Banuelos could ask Lugos to marry him.
Her behavior became even more aggressive when a mariachi band began playing Hispanic music. “Bullsh*t! F*****g Mexican. This isn’t Mexico either, you motherf*****s,” she shouted.
She eventually walked away while yelling at the crew: “Go back to Mexico!”
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Banuelos later described the woman as a “miserable person” who appeared determined to ruin the couple’s special moment, according to KTLA.
Lugos told the LA Times: “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 footage attracted more than 11 million views and one million Instagram likes. Trinity Films, the account that shared the video, wrote in its caption: “Mind you, engagements are not prohibited at this park and this proposal lasted less than 40 minutes.”
Viewers rallied behind the Latino couple, with many condemning 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 do not support hateful language or behavior.
Despite the racist confrontation, 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.
Our News Outlet contacted the Laguna Beach Police Department for comment.
