Woman dubbed 'Proposal Karen' interrupts engagement with racist tirade

A woman, now nicknamed 'Proposal Karen,' was captured on video spewing racist remarks and attempting to halt a marriage proposal at a Laguna Beach park last week.

The incident occurred as Emmanuel Banuelos was proposing to his now-fiancée Hayley Lugos in a scenic park. While a videographer and photographer were setting up to capture the moment, the woman approached the crew and demanded they dismantle their equipment.

"The park is for people that live here to enjoy the park and have picnics," the woman stated, claiming events were not allowed on the grass. When a female crew member, identified as Lugos's sister, attempted to de-escalate the situation, the woman responded, "I just called the police. They're coming out here. They're going to make you tear it down."

Despite assurances that the proposal would be brief, the woman continued to express her frustration, stating, "I don't care. It's every single fg weekend and I'm sick and tired of it." The conflict escalated further when a mariachi band began to play, prompting the woman to shout, "Bullsh*t! Fg Mexican. This isn't Mexico either, you motherf*****s." She then stormed off, yelling, "Go back to Mexico!"

Banuelos described the woman as a "miserable person" attempting to ruin a romantic moment. Lugos told the LA Times that the incident left her "so sad that people still have so much hate and racism in them" and that her "heart sank."

A video of the encounter, posted online, garnered millions of views. The account that shared the video noted that engagements are not prohibited in the park and that the proposal setup was temporary.

A spokesperson for the city of Laguna Beach acknowledged awareness of the video, stating that the city does not endorse hateful behavior. The spokesperson also clarified that while parks and beaches are open to all, professional photography and pre-planned setups require permits, as they can impact public access.

However, the spokesperson did not confirm if this specific proposal violated any rules, noting that documented proposals with setups typically need professional photography approval and that structures are not permitted. Banuelos indicated he believed a permit was unnecessary as the videographer was a family member.

According to Lugos's sister, the police never arrived at the scene. The couple returned to their home in Ontario to celebrate their engagement despite the interruption.