Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) issued an apology on Thursday after she and a male companion were escorted out of a Denver theatre for causing a disturbance during a performance of the musical “Beetlejuice” on Sunday night.
Boebert, who represents Colorado’s 3rd congressional district, said in a statement that she was “truly sorry” for the “unwanted attention” she received and admitted that she “let her enthusiasm get the best of her.”
“I love the performing arts and I appreciate the hard work and talent of the cast and crew of ‘Beetlejuice’,” Boebert said. “I did not intend to disrespect them or anyone else in the audience. I apologize for any inconvenience or annoyance I may have caused.”
According to an incident report obtained by NBC News, Boebert and her companion were warned during intermission about their behavior, which allegedly involved “vaping, singing [and] causing a disturbance” and prompted three complaints from other attendees1. The report also stated that Boebert was seen recording the show with her cellphone, which is prohibited at the venue.
When security officials asked them to leave, Boebert and her companion refused and said they would not leave until they saw the police. They were then escorted out of the Buell Theatre by Denver police officers1.
Boebert’s campaign manager, Drew Sexton, initially downplayed the incident, saying that the congresswoman was just “enthusiastically” enjoying the show and denied that she was vaping2. He also said that Boebert was unaware that taking photos was not allowed and only took one picture of the performance2.
Boebert later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she “plead guilty to laughing and singing too loud” and encouraged everyone to see the play1. She also joked that she wanted to know how it ends.
The incident drew criticism from Boebert’s political opponents, who accused her of being disrespectful and irresponsible. Adam Frisch, a former Aspen City Council member who narrowly lost to Boebert in the 2022 election, said that Boebert’s behavior was “unbecoming of a member of Congress” and called for her resignation3.
Boebert is known for her gun rights advocacy and support for former president Donald Trump. She has also been linked to the QAnon conspiracy theory and far-right extremism4. She is facing several challengers in the 2024 election, including Frisch, who announced his candidacy earlier this month3.
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