BBQ Becky, Karen the anti-mask or “Karen in Chief” all get on our nerves. That’s why it’s essential to understand what makes these individuals so irritating and how we can treat them differently.
For instance, the head of a farmers market resigned after she was caught on video criticizing a vendor for handing out pride flags. It serves as an alarming reminder that we must remain vigilant against those who would seek to cause harm, yet also serves as evidence of how far we’ve come as a society.
1. Ijeoma Ukenta vs. Abigail Elphick
Video footage showing a white woman lunging at a Black woman for shoplifting at Victoria’s Secret outlet in New Jersey has gone viral. The footage was posted online by Nigerian-American shopgirl Ijeoma Ukenta on TikTok and YouTube.
Ijeoma recorded the incident as she shopped at Victoria’s Secret in Short Hills Mall in Millburn, New Jersey. When Ukenta saw Elphick charging at her, she jumped in front of her camera and started recording.
Once she saw the video, Elphick suffered a mental breakdown on the floor in front of the registers. She screamed and at one point pretended to faint on the floor.
She then shouted at Ukenta to leave, and attempted to attack her with her hand. After another exchange of words, the two began fighting again before Ukenta sought security and police assistance.
Despite her repeated requests, mall security and police did nothing. They even refused to escort her out of the mall.
The incident has since been reported to the Millburn Police Department, who informed Heavy that they would send a report and look into what transpired. Meanwhile, video of Elphick at work has sparked many internet investigations in an effort to identify his workplace.
Elphick is listed as a teacher’s aide at Cedar Grove high school in Essex County, New Jersey on a website that connects people with colostomies. Additionally, her parents and brother both have the condition.
Calls to the school reveal she does not work there. Additionally, while the Verona-Cedar Grove Times has mentioned her in a story about her developmentally disabled brother, the newspaper does not indicate she is a teacher’s aide at Cedargrove.
4. Ijeoma Ukenta vs. Koo Koo Karen
Ijeoma Ukenta, a Black woman, was apparently chased by a white woman at Victoria’s Secret store. According to her video recording of the encounter with “Victoria’s Secret Karen”, who has become known online as “Victoria’s Secret Karen”, the white woman rushed at her, followed her around the mall, and attempted to hit her after recording it.
Ukenta, 38 from Newark, NJ, posted the videos to social media after being kicked off TikTok. She has since raised over $100,000 on GoFundMe for legal assistance as she claims mall security and the Millburn Police Department were wronged in their actions.
Ukenta began shopping at the store and trying to redeem a coupon for free panties when she noticed Elphick, a white woman, approaching her without permission. When asked not to follow her, Ukenta says Elphick allegedly responded by lunging at her.
Elphick is seen following Ukenta around before striking her, falling back and bending down while appearing to cry. However, Elphick denies having attempted to hit her.
After the incident, Ukenta uploaded her videos to YouTube and they quickly went viral. She has since presented what she refers to as a “police report,” asserting that Victoria’s Secret staff verified her version of events.
The videos of the incident have gone viral, garnering reactions ranging from sarcastic to comical and even vicious. Some commenters have accused Ukenta of racism or having a mental disorder; others have noted that her behavior was inappropriate and should not be allowed to continue. Many have called for her removal from Victoria’s Secret store.
5. Ijeoma Ukenta vs. Koo Koo Karen
On Saturday morning, Black woman Ijeoma Ukenta was attacked by a White woman inside of Victoria’s Secret store. As Ukenta began recording the incident, the white woman chased her around the store before accusing Ukenta of being “threatened” and calling mall security and police for assistance.
Victoria’s Secret Karen was caught on camera seemingly shouting and chasing Ukenta throughout the store in a series of viral videos. It all started when Ukenta was scanning through underwear selection when white woman began browsing items uncomfortably close to her.
Ukenta captured the exchange on video, which she posted to her YouTube channel. In the initial clip, Ukenta claims that the white woman followed her around the store, shouted at her and threatened to hit her.
Though she denied making such claims, several subsequent videos showed the white woman shouting and chasing Ukenta. In one such video, you can see her shouting at Ukenta to stop filming her and saying that she was “really angry” about their encounter.
After her encounter was captured on camera, Ukenta began uploading the videos to her social media accounts. The video went viral and many were appalled by what transpired.
Last month, Ukenta created a GoFundMe page to raise funds for her legal expenses. She plans on hiring a lawyer in connection with the alleged assault.
Ukenta recorded an incident at Victoria’s Secret at The Mall at Short Hills in Millburn, New Jersey on July 10 and posted the video to her YouTube channel; since then it has gone viral. In the clip she claims the woman was shouting and threatening her, chasing her around the store and calling mall security and police for assistance.
