A videographer hid behind an umbrella to film her sister’s surprise proposal, then a woman walked over and said she’d already called the police

A videographer recently had a peaceful day of work turned into a tense encounter when a stranger approached her and her brother to demand they leave a public park. Trinity Lugo, a 22-year-old videographer based in Southern California, was at Crescent Bay Point Park in Laguna Beach to capture her sister’s surprise engagement. 

As reported by LADbible, she and her brother were hiding behind an umbrella to stay out of sight until the big moment, but their preparation was interrupted by a woman who repeatedly harassed them. The woman first approached the duo while they were setting up their gear. She demanded to know if they had permits for their photography work. According to the City of Laguna Beach, permits are required for all motion picture, video, and professional still photography on city property. 

Trinity noted that the woman was on her phone during the initial interaction. She claimed they did not have the proper paperwork and told them they could not be there. Trinity and her brother chose to ignore these comments because they were focused on the arrival of their family members.

She told them to go back to Mexico

The situation reportedly escalated once the couple arrived at the location. As Trinity and her brother waited to jump out, the woman returned and approached them again. She claimed she had already called the police, stating, “they’re gonna come out here, they’re gonna make you tear it down,” and added, “it’s every single f*** weekend, and I’m sick and tired of it.” 

The tension peaked when a hired mariachi band began playing for the proposal. The woman responded by storming off while shouting, “Bull****. It’s f*** Mexican. This isn’t Mexico either you f***.” As she walked away, she turned back to tell the group, “Go back to Mexico.”

Trinity managed to record the encounter on video, which she posted on Instagram. She later reflected on the incident, saying, “It was a really shocking experience honestly. I can’t believe that there are still issues like that that are happening in our world, and it’s really sad.” 

Even after the harassment, Trinity and her brother confronted the woman to inform her that they had captured her behavior on camera. The woman had stayed near the proposal site to wait for the police, but the authorities never arrived.

Despite the intrusion, Trinity successfully captured the photos and video for her sister. The engagement was a long time in the making, as the future brother-in-law had spent 18 months saving for the ring, and the couple had been preparing for the moment for some time. 

The City of Laguna Beach addressed the incident in a statement, noting that they are aware of the video. A spokesperson emphasized that the city rejects hateful language and behavior, as it does not align with their values of acceptance and inclusion. 

While the city confirmed that pre-planned setups and professional photography require specific permits, they also reiterated that their parks and beaches are open to everyone. They closed by asking all visitors to treat each other with kindness and respect while enjoying the coastline. Trinity noted that they did their best to keep the situation quiet so the couple could stay focused on their engagement, and she described the rest of the celebration as beautiful.