A Black Wyoming family filmed themselves causing a scene at Yellowstone before accusing a white group of racism following an alleged dispute over a drone.
The video showed a mother with her sons standing behind a wooden fence separating them from a geothermal area. The mother initially told one of her sons not to throw a plastic cup into the geothermal area, but he appeared to ignore her and threw it over the fence, leaving litter in the area. “You got to stop being so goddamn stupid,” she told her son.
An older son then jumped over the fence and began running toward the geothermal area while his mother yelled and cursed at him. As the older son retreated, the younger son also jumped over the fence and followed him, prompting their mother to curse at him as well. “Get the [expletive] over here,” she said.
The mother then began counting down from five as her son appeared to pretend that he was going to jump into the geothermal area. He then picked up what appeared to be a stick and threw it toward the area. After he climbed back over the fence, the mother was seen pulling both his hair and his older brother’s hair. Viewers online interpreted the family’s behavior as causing a disturbance at the park.
The second part of the video showed the woman filming a white man who was with a group and calling him a “racist [expletive].” She claimed that her family had been enjoying their time at the park before the man approached and bothered them. According to her account, the man told her that flying a drone at Yellowstone was a federal offense and threatened to contact park rangers and police.
The woman said her family packed their belongings and filmed them as they moved to another area. She claimed that people continued bothering them wherever they went. “Like, jealousy has to be studied. That [expletive] is a disease,” she said. She then accused the people who confronted them of being jealous because they did not have a drone and instead had Android devices. “Why you gotta hate on me?” she asked before discussing white people and adding that she had white friends whom she loved.
Flying a drone in Yellowstone National Park is prohibited under National Park Service regulations unless the operator has written authorization from the park superintendent. The restriction applies to recreational visitors as well, meaning tourists generally cannot launch, land, or operate a drone simply to capture aerial footage of Yellowstone’s scenery.
According to the National Park Service, the rule is intended to prevent drones from disturbing wildlife, interfering with park operations, and disrupting other visitors. Limited exceptions may apply to authorized activities such as scientific research, search and rescue, or firefighting. Violating the prohibition can result in criminal penalties. This includes a fine of up to $5,000 and up to six months in jail.
Viewers Outraged Over Wyoming Family’s Behavior at Yellowstone
The video sparked reactions online. Many viewers expressed outrage over the Wyoming family’s behavior at the park. Some argued that the children’s actions were inappropriate and dangerous. They also criticized the mother for allegedly flying a drone in an area where drone use is prohibited. “Truly, don’t care what their race is, what the kids were doing was completely wrong & dangerous. Then the mother decides to fly a drone which is against the rules. Why is it so hard for people just to be normal?” one person wrote. Another commenter said, “There are 2 types of people in the world. Rule followers and those that think the rules don’t apply to them. It’s that simple. Transcends race or sex.”
More viewers continued criticizing the mother and her family over their behavior at the park. One commenter wrote, “They are not jealous you dumb [expletive]. They’re pissed because your kids are acting a fool at a national monument littering and throwing things‼ by the way your little one got so close he could have fallen in that pit and died. Nobody cares about your drone. It’s illegal to do it that’s all they’re telling you. Just because somebody tells you something that you don’t like doesn’t mean it’s racist. You and your entitled children should have been kicked out by the rangers. Your kids act a fool because you are a fool and it shows in their behavior.” Another person said, “Drones are illegal in the Park. Hopefully, the Rangers can find her with this.”
The video sparked a broader conversation about the importance of following rules at national parks. This is in addition to avoiding behavior that could damage protected areas or endanger visitors. It also led to discussion about whether people who violate park regulations should face consequences. This includes potential fines or other legal penalties when their actions break the law.
