A carefully orchestrated marriage proposal in Laguna Beach's Crescent Bay Point Park was reportedly disrupted by a woman shouting racial slurs and claiming the event violated city rules.
Emmanuel Banuelos spent weeks arranging the proposal, choosing a scenic park location, securing his future sister-in-law as a videographer, and booking a mariachi band. However, his plans did not account for being confronted by a woman who yelled "Go back to Mexico!" and stated she had contacted police because the event was not permitted.
Trinity Lugos, Banuelos's fiancée Hayley Lugos's sister, shared with The Times that the woman confronted her while setting up video equipment at the ocean-overlooking park on a Friday evening. The woman, who was walking her dog, was reportedly heard saying that "the park is for people that live here to enjoy" and that police were arriving to dismantle the engagement setup due to a lack of a permit. The situation intensified as the mariachi music began playing and the couple approached a display of white roses and candles. Moments before Banuelos proposed, the woman reportedly yelled, "This isn’t Mexico either, you motherf—, go back to Mexico!"
A recording of the encounter has garnered more than 10.8 million views on Instagram, sparking widespread outrage over the woman’s remarks. Hayley Lugos expressed her sadness, stating that the incident revealed "so much hate and racism," causing her heart to sink and leaving her distraught. Banuelos described the confrontation as incredibly shocking and deeply offensive, noting that with his "very deep Mexican roots," it was "very hurtful to hear things like that."
In response to the viral video, a spokesperson for the city of Laguna Beach stated that the city was aware of the footage and rejects hateful language and behavior. The spokesperson affirmed that Laguna Beach's parks and beaches are accessible to everyone and frequently serve as backdrops for celebrating milestones. However, the spokesperson also noted that the frequency of such events can impact the public's right to enjoy the coastline, and therefore, "pre-planned setups and professional photography have specific rules and permit requirements." While the spokesperson did not confirm if Banuelos's proposal specifically violated city rules, they clarified that documented proposals necessitate a professional photography permit and that proposals involving set-ups and structures are not permitted.
Banuelos, however, stated he believed he did not require a professional photography permit, given that his videographer was a family member and they did not use amplified sound or temporary structures. Trinity Lugos noted that the entire setup, proposal, and cleanup took less than an hour. The Laguna Beach Police Department did not respond to a request for comment regarding whether they received a call for service concerning the engagement.
Despite the unexpected interference, the couple stated they were still able to enjoy their special moment before returning home to Ontario for a surprise engagement party. Trinity Lugos posted the recording online to seek accountability for the comments and was surprised by the millions of views it received. Hayley Lugos expressed happiness that the video went viral, hoping it would convey a message that "racism will not be tolerated" and that it is "a blessing for it to be brought to light." She added that it "shows that you can’t be doing this stuff anymore."
