Venue officials say the Republican congresswoman was “causing a disturbance” during the performance by vaping, singing and recording from the audience. Boebert’s campaign denies the vaping part
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Lauren Boebert Chip Somodevilla/Getty Lauren Boebert © Provided by People Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert allegedly caused such a “disturbance” during a performance of the Beetlejuice musical in Denver that she was escorted out of the venue, according to an incident report shared with The Denver Post.
The Post says officials with Denver Arts & Venues wrote in their report that two patrons — allegedly including Boebert — were asked to leave the Buell Theatre during a performance of the touring Broadway show after earlier being issued a warning following complaints from three other attendees. According to the incident report, the theatre received complaints “about the patrons being loud and … recording" the performance, which is not permitted during the show. Following a warning during intermission, the behavior allegedly continued, and the two were finally told to leave — though, according to the incident report, the ushers initially received pushback.
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From the report: “They told me they would not leave. I told them that they need to leave the theater and if they do not, they will be trespassing. The patrons said they would not leave. I told them I would [be] going to get Denver Police. They said go get them.”
JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado © Provided by People The report further alleges that the two resisted leaving after exiting the theatre, saying, “stuff like ‘do you know who I am,’ ‘I am on the board,’ ‘I will be contacting the mayor.’”
The police were eventually called, and security footage released by the venue shows Boebert and a male companion being told to exit the theatre while they sit in the audience, then exiting the theatre into a lobby as police officers stand nearby.
Related video: Rep. Lauren Boebert seen getting booted from Colorado theater (Scripps News) Current Time 0:01 / Duration 3:53 Scripps News Rep. Lauren Boebert seen getting booted from Colorado theater 0 View on Watch View on Watch At one point during the footage, Boebert can be seen turning around as she exits and pointing her finger at the usher.
Though the report does not name Boebert, her campaign confirmed that she was escorted out of the theatre during the performance, which took place Sunday night.
A spokesperson disputed reports that Boebert had been vaping, though, telling PEOPLE that a “venue ticket site notes there are heavy fog machines and electronic cigarettes used during the play” and that they “believe it was a misunderstanding from someone sitting near her.”
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Boebert herself seemingly confirmed some of the report, writing on X, “It’s true, I did thoroughly enjoy the AMAZING Beetlejuice at the Buell Theatre and I plead guilty to laughing and singing too loud! Everyone should go see it if you get the chance this week and please let me know how it ends!”
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The 36-year-old lawmaker’s term has been checkered with controversy that Boebert herself has courted— often by sparring with her colleagues.
Last year, she called a Republican primary challenger a “groomer,” a term for a person who sexually abuses children. She has also feuded with Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, about whom she has made racist comments, calling her a member of “the jihad squad” and accusing her of “praising terrorists.”
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A fervent gun advocate who vowed in a political ad to carry a weapon to work in Congress, Boebert reportedly got into a standoff with Capitol Police when she refused to allow officers to search her bag after setting off metal detectors just days after the insurrection.
Last November, she narrowly won a second term in office, after her Democratic challenger put up an unexpectedly tough fight to unseat the controversial Republican after just one term. She has already announced her campaign for a third term, which will be decided in 2024.