Bride-to-Be Receives Wedding Dress After Proposal Interrupted by Racist Outburst

A California woman whose marriage proposal was marred by a racist outburst has received a wedding dress from a bridal store owner who was moved by her experience. Hayley Lugo was engaged at Crescent Bay Point Park in Laguna Beach when a woman approached and told Lugo and her fiancé, Emmanuel Banuelos, to “go back to Mexico” as a mariachi band played.

Lisa Clark, owner of the Saint Clark Bridal Suite in Monrovia, heard about the incident and offered Lugo a complimentary wedding dress. "We live in a world [where] people can be pretty hateful," Clark told CBS News. "So I wanted to make sure that she understood that the world is not full of hate and there is still kindness, and if this is something I could do for her, I wanted to do it."

Lugo expressed gratitude for the gesture, saying, “Very blessed to be receiving the gown and that there’s so many kind people out there who are still willing to help us despite what happened.” She appeared to select a strapless white gown adorned with pearls.

The incident occurred when the woman approached the couple and a mariachi band hired for the occasion. The woman is heard on video saying, “Bulls–t. It’s f–king Mexican. This isn’t Mexico either, you motherf–ers.” As she walked past, she added, “Go back to Mexico.”

Haley’s sister, Trinity Lugo, who was also the engagement’s videographer, stated that the woman confronted them and the camera setup. “The park is for people who live here and enjoy the park and have picnics,” the woman reportedly said.

Banuelos had chosen mariachi music because Lugo “fallen in love” with it.

City officials in Laguna Beach condemned the woman’s behavior, stating, “The City of Laguna Beach is aware of the video from Crescent Bay Point Park on October 2. Laguna Beach has long been a place of acceptance and inclusion. We reject hateful language and behavior of any kind as it does not reflect our community’s values.”