Over the last several years, viral videos featuring white women labeled “Karen” have become increasingly commonplace.
These middle-aged, entitled women often act as if they have the right to do whatever they please in public. They frequently get worked up over seemingly minor things such as grilling charcoal outside or monitoring other people’s behaviour.
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr is an American comedian, actress and author born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is the oldest of four children raised by her parents: Helen Davis (a bookkeeper) and Jerome Hershel “Jerry” Barr – a salesman.
In 1985, Barr made her first television appearance on The Tonight Show. The following year she star in her own series Roseanne which quickly went viral due to its realistic characters and strong jokes that resonated with a generation of viewers.
Through her career, Roseanne has used comedy to make strong statements and advocate for various causes. Her show Roseanne was a pioneer in depicting gay characters at a time when they were still taboo in primetime television, as well as working-class matriarchs trying to make ends meet.
She has made headlines for speaking out against transgender bathroom rights and child trafficking, though her tweets have been criticized. Despite these setbacks, her popularity on social media continues to grow.
On Tuesday, Valerie Jarrett – an adviser to President Obama – tweeted a controversial link between herself and the Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes. Her comment sparked outrage from celebrities and politicians alike who were offended by it; though later removed, ABC cancelled her show and many fans are urging her to depart Twitter.
In the wake of her racist tweet, Roseanne Barr is refusing to apologize. She was even seen confronting a news van outside her home in Salt Lake City with an expression that appeared both angry and disheveled.
The actress has a history of racism and sexism, and has been accused of making anti-Semitic remarks in the past. Additionally, her platform has been used to spread misinformation about vaccines and medical treatments.
She has also been accused of spreading misinformation about child sexual activity. Her tweets regarding the Pizzagate conspiracy theory were condemned, and she has been investigated for her alleged remarks.
In 2012, she ran for president on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket. Although she lost out in the election, she has continued to perform standup comedy and express her beliefs publicly.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow is an actress and philanthropist who never hesitates to express her opinions. Her diverse resume includes roles in films such as High and Hook, plus she founded her lifestyle brand Goop.
She is an enthusiastic proponent of clean beauty and label transparency. In addition to being on the Oral Cancer Foundation board, she serves on DonorsChoose organization as well. Additionally, she has long supported Robin Hood Foundation by making several charity appearances on TV and radio shows.
Paltrow has achieved great success in addition to her acting career, becoming a well-known lifestyle blogger and launching an organic beauty line called Goop. She recently visited Holt Renfrew store in Toronto where she spoke about her new venture to an enthusiastic group of bloggers and fans alike.
Many celebrities have voiced their disdain for the entitled, rude and racist Karens that exist online. Despite what it may appear that everyone is against these individuals, there remain those who take advantage of their privilege without regard for others’ feelings.
No matter your opinion on Karens, it’s essential to understand what drives them and why. Yahoo Life spoke with several experts to identify the most common reasons why Karens would experience meltdowns, as well as how we can all better cope with these individuals.
“Karen” is a white woman with an overly large ego. Often, this term serves as an archetype that exudes entitlement and rage – much like its male counterpart “Chad.”
This term is deeply embedded in the culture of white supremacy and anti-blackness that has plagued our society for centuries. It suggests that many white women believe they deserve what they desire regardless of who else may need it or wants it more.
White women often exhibit temper tantrums over seemingly insignificant issues. But when one begins to spiral out of control, the situation can quickly spiral out of control.
Debra Messing
Debra Messing has long been an outspoken champion for women’s rights and sexual assault awareness. On Twitter, she frequently speaks out against racism and oppression – including last week when she called out neo-Nazis who demonstrated in Charlottesville.
Her social media posts were filled with passionate criticism of neo-Nazis, including statements such as “It is beyond me that white supremacy could take root in Charlottesville.” Additionally, while posting her views on racial injustice on Twitter, she also showed support for Black Lives Matter movement and expressed her own thoughts regarding violence that took place in Ferguson, Mo. She held that this situation was due to white privilege.
Messing earned the GLAAD Media Award in 2017 for her activism as an openly gay and lesbian person. She has been an influential member of the LGBT community since 1990 when she graduated from Brandeis University with a bachelor’s degree in theater arts, followed by earning a master’s from New York University’s Graduate Acting Program.
After graduating from NYU, she went on to star in several television series such as Ned and Stacey, Prey and Will & Grace. For her roles on these shows she earned six Golden Globe nominations, five Primetime Emmy Award nominations and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Messing’s success at New York University led her to be accepted into their esteemed Graduate Acting Program, which accepts only 15 new students each year. After three years, Messing earned a Masters of Fine Arts.
Though her role as Grace Adler on Will & Grace marked her breakthrough role, she has since appeared in a variety of other popular films and television shows. Nominated for numerous awards including a Golden Globe for her performance in The Starter Wife (1998), she continues to garner recognition for her performances.
Some users on Reddit have dubbed the actress the “Karen of the United States” and her name has become a slur for an age group of white middle aged women. Common behaviors include talking to service industry workers, anti-vaccination policies and racist microaggressions such as asking someone to touch someone’s hair.
Lori Loughlin
Lori Loughlin has become a well-known figure in the media after she admitted to paying a US$500,000 donation to get her daughters into top US universities. She and her husband Mossimo Giannulli were involved in an elaborate scam where wealthy parents paid to get their children into exclusive US universities on fake crew scholarships.
Despite the scandal, Lori has gradually returned to normalcy, landing several acting roles and attending charity events. Recently she appeared on Lead with Love 3 where she discussed her volunteer work with Project Angel Food – an organization that feeds hungry children.
She has made it a priority to stay connected to her fans, sharing pictures and videos of herself and her family. Despite recent struggles, she remains strong and will never let it bring her down.
Loughlin has been in the entertainment industry for more than 25 years, boasting an impressive list of credits to her name. She starred in television’s Full House and its Netflix sequel, as well as films like Edge of Night, Garage Sale Mystery and When Calls the Heart.
Her most acclaimed role is Rebecca Donaldson on the sitcom Full House. Additionally, she played Jody Travis in the film The Edge of Night, earning critical acclaim for her portrayal.
In addition to her work on screen, she’s also a model and producer. She was co-creator, writer and executive producer for WB’s Summerland series which aired for two seasons.
She is 56 years old and was born in Queens, New York on July 28, 1964. She spent her formative years growing up on Long Island before graduating from Hauppauge High School.
After graduating college, she worked as an assistant manager for a cosmetics company. She is passionate about fitness and has achieved great results; her weight is 55kg or 121 lbs and she stands at 5 feet 5 inches in height.
