If you’re not a social media expert, chances are you haven’t come across “Karen.” It’s the popular nickname for entitled white women who engage in what has been widely condemned as racist and selfish behavior.
Karen gained notoriety in 2020 as racial tensions rose due to the coronavirus pandemic and protests for racial justice. Videos of white women sneering at and calling the police on Black people, especially children, were widely shared online.
Lisa Rinna
Lisa Rinna is one of the more well-known white female stars who has used her platform on social media to advocate for justice. She’s become a fan favorite on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and her support of social causes is something that drives her passion. Unfortunately, there are those who disagree with her opinions and she has faced immense pressure from them.
Recently, Bravo star Karen Pugh posted a note on her Instagram Stories where she revealed that some “Karen’s” are calling QVC to have her fired for her political views. This is unfortunate as Karen has always stood up for what’s right and been quite successful at doing so.
She has long been an advocate of the Black Lives Matter movement and has even expressed her support for LGBTQ individuals. Unfortunately, some individuals do not share her viewpoints and have even threatened her in the past.
Fans have expressed outrage that she is being overly sensitive when it comes to racial issues, and have made it known they no longer wish to purchase her clothing lines due to her political opinions.
On the contrary, she has been vocal in her support of Black Lives Matter and spoken out about sexual assault she experienced on set. Unfortunately, some people still disagree with her opinion on racial matters and have even threatened her life.
Karens are becoming more and more common, damaging people’s reputations while putting their lives in jeopardy. It is imperative to take action against these racist Karens as they have caused so much harm for years.
Recently, some of the more egregious Karens have been exposed and given due recognition. Amy Cooper made headlines last May when she called the police on a Black man who asked her to keep her dog on a leash in New York City’s Central Park.
Amy Cooper
Karen, an icon of white privilege and anti-blackness/racism, has become part of the American public narrative. No longer relegated to social media users, it’s become a byword for white women who use their power to intimidate or call the police on Black people.
Last May, Amy Cooper – a White woman from New York City – called 911 to report an African-American bird watcher (no relation) in Central Park. Her video went viral and ignited a national dialogue on racism. As her Twitter account began trending, many others shared similar accounts of white women calling police on Black people in both personal and professional contexts.
Prosecutors eventually dropped misdemeanor charges against Amy Cooper. Yet she still lost her job at Franklin Templeton, a holding company, and is now suing the firm for race discrimination, gender discrimination and defamation.
Amy Cooper attempted to portray herself as the victim of an abusive employer, yet ultimately acted out of fear that she would lose her job. Unfortunately, a US District Court judge dismissed her lawsuit, ruling that there was insufficient evidence to prove any harm had been caused by the actions of her former employer.
Karens, like other racists, often take advantage of their privilege to oppress Black people by targeting them at work, home, and public spaces. You may have even caught Karens racial profiling Black customers at stores on video.
Karens are incredibly dangerous, and have played an influential role in the modern era of racism. Often armed and deadly, especially in the United States, Karens remain a formidable adversary.
There have been a number of incidents where white women have used their privilege to harm Black people, but unfortunately the public narrative has diminished their significance and reduced them to mere punchlines that serve to shift blame away from systemic racism.
Jada Pinkett-Smith
Jada Pinkett-Smith is an acclaimed American actress, singer-songwriter, and businesswoman with an estimated net worth of $110 million. Her income comes from acting, singing, business endorsements as well as charity work through The Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation which assists youths in need.
She is the mother of two children, Jaden and Willow, from her previous marriage with Will Smith, as well as having a stepson named Trey Smith from that union.
Recently, many have made a case for the racist Karens who have been calling police on Black people in public. As their name implies, these white women feel entitled to police anyone they deem suspicious even if they are innocent of any crime or offense.
Recent instances of this kind have been numerous, but Amy Cooper’s video has gone viral on Twitter and social media with over 40 million views.
Although it’s impossible to pinpoint the exact origin of these racist attitudes, there can be no doubt that there exists a sex bias. Jada Pinkett-Smith herself has experienced racism firsthand and believes strongly in combatting attacks from those who believe in white supremacy and racism. She understands how important it is for us all to stand together against such hatred.
When confronting a racist Karen, the initial step is to get her to recognize that her actions are unacceptable. This can be difficult since many of these women lack an explanation for their behavior and often express little or no regret for it.
Karen may eventually recognize what is wrong and strive to correct it; however, for this to occur she will require support along the way.
It’s essential to be a supportive ally for someone trying to alter their behaviors, since she may not share your drive for change. By showing that you care and offering encouragement, she may be more apt to pay attention and act upon your advice.
Chris Brown
Chris Brown has earned a reputation for being one of music’s most violent and notorious singers, with multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against women. Despite facing multiple rape allegations and even jail time, his career in music continues to flourish.
Two years after his notorious beating of Rihanna, he has managed to avoid serious repercussions from both legal and media circles and maintain a relatively quiet public presence. His latest album “Indigo” is set for release on June 28, and fans eagerly await what will transpire next.
On June 18th, Brown is accused of hitting a woman at his home in Los Angeles and authorities are investigating the incident as battery. Although details surrounding what transpired remain uncertain, this shouldn’t come as any shock given his past history of alleged assaults against women.
As one can imagine, the situation caused a stir on social media as people took to Twitter and TikTok to voice their complaints about Brown’s conduct. As previously defended by Brown in response to such claims, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that he took the same stance this time around.
Recently, video emerged of a Karen who allegedly hurled racial slurs at a Black store manager. The video was captured and uploaded to TikTok, with over 2 million views showing how the white woman stood behind the Black manager while shouting incoherently: “You ignorant mother f*cking bitch!” It’s clear that these comments deeply hurt the Black manager’s feelings.
This video is just one example of the many racist Karens that have emerged online and in real life recently. These privileged white women have become well known for their false portrayals of themselves as victims and misguided notions of moral authority over others.
Recently, video emerged of a Karen woman claiming she was suspicious of her Black neighbor. In the clip, the white woman approached the apparently Black neighbor and demanded that Tigger’s flag be taken down from outside their homes.
