Surveillance Video Contradicts Rep. Lauren Boebert’s Denial of Vaping During ‘Beetlejuice’ Show
In a recent turn of events, a surveillance video obtained by NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver has brought into question the accuracy of statements made by Rep. Lauren Boebert’s campaign manager, Drew Sexton, regarding her alleged vaping during a performance of the musical “Beetlejuice” in Denver. The video shows Rep. Boebert, a Colorado Republican, apparently vaping inside the theater, contradicting her aide’s claim that the smoke in the venue originated from fog machines and electronic cigarettes used during the show.
The video captures a moment during the performance when Rep. Boebert was seated next to a companion, surrounded by theatergoers who were in the process of taking their seats. It appears to show her raising her hand to her face, followed by a visible puff of smoke emanating from her mouth in the direction of the person in front of her.
This development has prompted significant public scrutiny and questions surrounding the initial explanations provided by Boebert’s campaign team.
On Friday night, in response to the video’s release, Rep. Boebert issued an apology, acknowledging that she had indeed been vaping inside the venue. She stated, “I genuinely did not recall vaping that evening when I discussed the night’s events with my campaign team while confirming my enthusiasm for the musical. Regardless of my belief, it’s clear now that was not accurate; it was not my or my campaign’s intention to mislead, but we do understand the nature of how this looks.”
During the video, the theater lights appeared to be dimmed, and a woman seated behind Boebert reportedly leaned in to speak with her. According to an opinion piece in The Denver Post, the woman was pregnant and requested that Boebert cease vaping, a request that the congresswoman allegedly refused.
The video also captured additional instances of disruptive behavior, including Boebert taking flash photos during the show and raising her arms as if to dance. As a result of the disturbances, Boebert was eventually escorted out of the performance on that Sunday night. An incident report obtained by NBC News stated that two patrons were asked to leave the Buell Theatre in Denver that night. The report cited behavior that allegedly involved “vaping, singing [and] causing a disturbance,” which led to three complaints from other theatergoers, according to officials with Denver Arts & Venues.
Drew Sexton, Boebert’s campaign manager, had previously denied the vaping allegations in a statement to The Washington Post, asserting that the smoke had indeed come from heavy fog machines and electronic cigarettes used during the show. He suggested that there may have been a misunderstanding from someone sitting near Rep. Boebert.
This latest development raises questions not only about Rep. Boebert’s actions but also about the accuracy of information provided by her campaign team. The controversy surrounding the incident has put her in the spotlight, prompting both public scrutiny and a public apology.