Unfortunately, there have been many racist, rude and entitled Karens arrested due to their behaviors. These individuals often get recorded and shared on social media platforms.
Karens, Kens, Beckys or Brians – whatever name you give them – are all part of a larger trend that has emerged over the last several years: socially policed Black bodies at the behest of white women.
Sophia Rosing
Last November, Sophia Rosing, a 22-year-old white student at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, was caught on video using racial slurs and physically assaulting a Black Resident Assistant (RA) at Boyd Residence Hall. The footage depicts her spewing the n-word over 200 times during her tirade.
Her actions were seen by millions online and have had far-reaching consequences – such as losing her brand deal, being suspended by the University of Kentucky and then banned from campus, plus potentially facing criminal charges. Her victim, Kylah Spring, has spoken out about her ordeal and is now calling for more action by the university to combat racial harassment on campus.
Video footage of the incident went viral, showing a drunk Rosing repeatedly using the n-word as she taunted and attacked a Black student at school, trying to hit her while throwing punches.
After her video went viral, Rosing was arrested and charged with assault, public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Additionally, she lost both her social media marketing intern and visual merchandising manager jobs at fashion brand Dillard’s as well as being permanently barred from the University of Kentucky.
Court records show the 22-year-old was arrested in the early hours of November 6 and initially pled not guilty. However, she was ultimately indicted on six counts including one count of third-degree assault, three counts of fourth-degree assault, and one count of second-degree disorderly conduct.
This week, an indictment was filed against Rosing and she is scheduled to appear before a Fayette County grand jury on March 17. On the same day, her arraignment is also set.
Her mugshot revealed she pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against her and her lawyer Fred Peters told FOX 56 his client is “completely ashamed” of what she did. He added that after being humiliated following the incident, she will seek help in the future.
Rosing, now a permanent out of state resident and barred from the University of Kentucky, won’t be allowed to re-enroll. Her parents have yet to comment on her arrest; however, Paul Donald Rosing – an executive at Messer Construction Co. and native of Fort Mitchell in Kentucky – has expressed his displeasure with her actions.
Miya Ponsetto
Miya Ponsetto’s interview with Gayle King hours before she was arrested denied racism was a factor and claimed she is an “adorable girl.” Asked how an innocent accusation could amount to criminal offense, she waved her hand wildly as Gayle attempted to corroborate her statement.
Video released by the New York Post shows Ponsetto slamming her car door on a police officer during her arrest for resisting police attempts to stop her on an aggravated harassment warrant in 2020. She was taken into custody without bail and awaits extradition back to New York where she could serve up to four years in prison.
TMZ reported that Ponsetto was previously charged with a hate crime for his attack on Keyon Harrold Jr. at Arlo SoHo hotel in Manhattan on Dec. 26, which was filmed by Harrold’s father.
Harrold’s family posted video of the attack to social media and has been vocal in their support of him and demand for justice. They hired civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump and held several rallies in Chicago in support of Harrold.
At the time of her arrest, Ponsetto was on probation in California for another hate crime. She must now abide by the terms of her probation for two years and attend counseling sessions to maintain it.
Meanwhile, she has been receiving threats and not responding to messages. Additionally, both her mother and lawyer have expressed their worries about her mental health.
Ponsetto, in a long interview recorded hours before her arrest with CBS news anchor Gayle King, denied racism was an issue and claimed she is simply “sweet”. Wearing a Daddy hat, the 22-year-old admitted making up the false accusation against King.
Sharen Ghatan, her attorney, told NBC that Karen had suffered an anxiety attack and was “triggered” when she realized she’d lost her phone. It’s a reaction which has become “normal for her”, according to Ghatan.
Bitsy Brennan
A White mother and her son were arrested after assaulting a Black man in a parking garage in Tennessee. Video evidence captured them watching Johnny Martinez, an employee of the complex’s garage, check vehicles for permits, according to The Daily Beast.
Prosecutors said the video shows Brennan and her son questioning why he’s there, then trying to get him to show identification. When he refused, Brennan and her son attacked him, according to prosecutors.
The arrest warrant stated that Martinez felt threatened during an encounter on the Capital Crescent Trail, which connects Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland. The arrest warrant further noted that this encounter “could be considered highly offensive or provocative” and made him fear for his safety.
Though this incident hasn’t received the same level of national media coverage as some other Karen moments, it remains shocking. It demonstrates how easily racists can act without consequence or consequences.
It also illustrates that many people of color are reluctant to report incidents involving racists, due to concerns for their safety and potential legal repercussions. Thankfully, in this case the Black man was able to capture video evidence and take photos for his legal defense.
However, this controversy has sparked a fierce online debate about how racism should be addressed. While some advocate for greater racial profiling, others maintain it should only be used as a last resort.
Furthermore, some believe racism to be a crime against humanity and should be addressed immediately. They stress the importance of ending racial profiling of Black men in the workplace.
Others contend that it is essential to educate Black people about their rights and how to safeguard themselves against racial harassment. With this awareness, we may start seeing a decrease in such instances.
Miya Ponsetto, also known as “SoHo Karen,” made headlines in 2020 when she falsely accused a Black man of stealing her iPhone in New York City. She also tackled him to the ground, breaking her glass phone case. Ultimately convicted of a hate crime and sentenced to two years probation, Ms Ponsetto was an icon throughout society during that time period.
Bishop Talbert Swan
Bishop Swan is a Pentecostal pastor and community activist. For over two decades, he has been at the forefront of civil rights issues across America, being featured in media outlets such as the New York Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post and Emerge Magazine. Additionally, Bishop Swan has spoken at numerous events and been interviewed on radio and television to share his message of hope.
Swan, who serves as both pastor and president of the NAACP, has recently come under fire for his comments regarding police officers after two were fatally shot in Los Angeles, California. After this incident, Swan tweeted that there “no such thing as blue lives”.
Swan has been criticised for his remarks, yet he insists he doesn’t regret them. He goes on to mention his “long record of advocating and teaching respect for law enforcement officers,” adding that this has been his goal all along.
Swan was served a letter this month from attorneys representing former NFL quarterback Brett Favre, prompting an investigation by the state of Mississippi into his activities. According to the lawyer, Swan has spoken about Favre’s welfare fraud case numerous times on his radio show and social media channels.
According to the letter, Swan is being investigated for making “potential legal claims arising from certain public statements.”
Swan recently shared on Facebook that he had been the target of racist voicemails. He believes they were intended to intimidate him into staying away from the NAACP, calling him a “white supremacist”.
Swan has been an activist and pastor for years, as well as serving on the Boards of Trustees at Baystate Medical Center and NAACP Springfield. Additionally, he served as President of the NAACP in Springfield and member of the Springfield Action Commission.
He was an influential community and civil rights activist who dedicated himself to his family, church, and neighbors. As the founder and former pastor of Spring of Hope Church of God in Christ, a longtime community leader and active member in both Greater Springfield NAACP and Middlesex Club organizations, his work made a lasting impact on those around him.
