A woman's racist outburst marred a marriage proposal at a scenic Laguna Beach park last week, with video of the incident showing her shouting slurs at a Hispanic couple and their guests. The woman, who has been nicknamed 'Proposal Karen' online, approached the group as they prepared to film and photograph the engagement.
According to Emmanuel Banuelos, who was proposing to his now-fiancée Hayley Lugos, the woman initially complained about the group using the park. "The park is for people that live here to enjoy the park and have picnics," she stated. When a member of the filming crew, identified as Lugos's sister, responded that they would leave shortly after the proposal, the woman escalated.
"I just called the police. They're coming out here. They're going to make you tear it down," the woman said. She continued to express her frustration, stating, "I don't care. It's every single f*****g weekend and I'm sick and tired of it."
The situation intensified when a mariachi band began playing Hispanic music. The woman responded with further racist remarks, shouting, "Bullsh*t! Fg Mexican. This isn't Mexico either, you motherfs." She then stormed off, yelling, "Go back to Mexico!"
Banuelos described the woman as a "miserable person" attempting to ruin a romantic moment. Lugos expressed her sadness, telling 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."
A video of the incident gained significant attention online, with over 11 million views on Instagram. A caption accompanying the video noted that engagements are not prohibited in the park and the proposal lasted less than 40 minutes.
A spokesperson for the city of Laguna Beach acknowledged awareness of the video and stated that the city "does not support hateful language and behavior." The spokesperson added that while parks and beaches are open to everyone, "pre-planned setups and professional photography have specific rules and permit requirements." The city confirmed that documented proposals require professional photography approval and that setups and structures are not allowed. Banuelos indicated he did not believe a permit was necessary as the videographer was a family member.
The couple returned to their home in Ontario to celebrate their engagement, and Lugos's sister confirmed that police never arrived at the scene. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Laguna Beach Police Department for comment.