Rep. Lauren Boebert removed from musical ‘Beetlejuice’ in Denver for vaping, causing disruption

Surveillance footage from the theater released by KUSA, an NBC affiliate in Denver, appears to show Boebert and a man being escorted from their seats. In the lobby, Boebert is seen reprimanding a bailiff, at one point giving him the middle finger.

As they were escorted from the scene, according to the incident report, both men made statements such as: “Do you know who I am?” and “I’m a board member” and “I’ll contact the mayor.” Denver Police Department officers responded to the incident and remained in the lobby until the two men left the scene, the report states.

Drew Sexton, Boebert’s campaign manager, confirmed to the Washington Post that the congresswoman was escorted from the performance, but he disputed the alleged behavior cited by the venue.

“I can confirm the stunning and salacious rumors: In her spare time, Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is indeed a supporter of the performing arts (gasp!) and, much to the dismay of a select few, enthusiastically enjoyed a performance of Beetlejuice on weekend,” he said. said in a statement. Sexton noted that the Denver Post, first to report the story, called the show “wacky,” “scandalous” and a “vigorous riot.”

Sexton denied that Boebert was vaping during “Beetlejuice,” saying heavy fog machines and e-cigarettes were used during the show, so there could have been “a misunderstanding from someone sitting near her “.

Boebert said on X, formerly Twitter, that she “really enjoyed the incredible Beetlejuice at the Buell Theater 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!” ” she wrote.

Denver Police Sgt. David Abeyta told the Post that the venue’s private security handled the situation, “so we never had any interaction with this incident.”

“This was resolved before we got involved,” he said.

Brian Kitts, director of marketing and communications for Denver Arts and Venues, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday morning. Kitts told the Denver Gazette that Boebert and his guest were kicked out after “numerous complaints” from other guests about inappropriate behavior.

Before joining Congress in 2020, Boebert was arrested or summoned at least four times, according to the Denver Post. Boebert, who represents a rural and strongly conservative part of western Colorado, was re-elected last year after a recount confirmed she won a closer election than expected. Her Democratic challenger, Adam Frisch, had argued that Boebert’s controversial comments and reputation as an incendiary Republican — she compared the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol to 1776, when the United States declared its independence — were a distraction for his district. . She won by 546 votes.

Frisch is again challenging Boebert for his seat in 2024.

“Beetlejuice,” a Broadway adaptation of Tim Burton’s 1988 film, is showing at the Buell Theater through September 17. The venue warns that the musical “contains strong language, mature references and lots of crazy and inappropriate things you would want.” expect from a deranged demon.

On Sunday, staff received three complaints about the couple sitting in row E of the orchestra section, the report states. Several officials waited until the two men returned to their seats to give them a warning.

“I informed them that our team of bailiffs had noticed vaping and that they were also causing disruption in the neighborhood with noise, singing, using their cell phones, and that they needed to be respectful to their neighbors,” an official wrote in the report. “As there had already been several complaints, I informed the customers that if there was another problem they would be asked to leave.”

That’s when Boebert and his guest became “argumentative,” saying “they were in concert with everyone around them,” the report said. Five minutes later, theater officials received another report that the two men were being loud and recording the performance, according to the report. That’s when authorities told Boebert and the man to leave.

“They told me they wouldn’t leave,” wrote a site manager. “I told them they had to leave the theater and if they didn’t they would enter without permission. Customers said they wouldn’t leave. I told them I was going to call the Denver police. They said to go get them.

A few minutes later, Boebert and his guest left. After leaving the theater, Boebert was seen twirling on the boardwalk while holding the man’s hand, according to surveillance video.

The man does not appear to be her husband and his identity is unclear. Boebert announced in May that she was filing for divorce from her husband of two decades. Her husband allegedly threatened their neighbors last year in what authorities described as neighborhood disturbances. No arrests have been made in this case.

Sexton, Boebert’s campaign manager, told the Post that Boebert appreciates the venue’s strict enforcement of its no-photo policy. The congresswoman “strongly encourages everyone to go see Beetlejuice.” encourages people to see “Beetlejuice,” he added. “But with a little reminder to leave their phone outside the room.”