A woman’s racist comments were caught on video after she confronted a photography crew that was minutes away from capturing a surprise marriage proposal in Laguna Beach.
Crescent Bay Park is a scenic clifftop park known for its stunning ocean views. That breathtaking backdrop is the reason Emmanuel Banuelos picked it as the place to propose to his girlfriend after searching for the right spot for two months.
Banuelos set everything up for what he hoped would be the most romantic setting possible: an ocean view, decorations, a mariachi band and a photographer. But he did not expect the day to be interrupted by another parkgoer.
The woman, who was upset about the event, approached the group and said she had just called police.
“(Police) are going down here. They’re going to make you tear it down,” the woman said in a video captured by the photographer’s Meta glasses. “It’s every f—— single weekend. I’m sick and tired of it.”
Once the mariachi band began playing, the woman’s anger escalated.
“This isn’t Mexico,” she said. “Go back to Mexico.”
The photographer, who is also the sister of Banuelos’ now-fiancée, said the woman’s comments created a stressful moment.
Despite the confrontation, the couple said the proposal went off mostly without a hitch. But they would welcome an apology from the woman.
“She lacked a lot of respect toward us and our culture. It’s very hurtful to hear things like that, considering we are residents here. We live here. I’ve lived here all my life,” Banuelos said.
In response, Laguna Beach said the city has long been a place of acceptance and inclusion and rejects hateful language and behavior of any kind.
“Laguna Beach’s parks and beaches are open to everyone and are regularly the backdrop to celebrate milestones,” the city said in a statement.
Banuelos did not think he needed a permit for his proposal, but the city confirmed that “pre-planned setups and professional photography have specific rules and permit requirements” because they could affect the general public’s right to enjoy the coastline.