Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, so-called “Karen” videos have gone viral on social media. Unfortunately, these incidents often lack context and can lead to doxxing and harassment.
Some criticize the term as sexist and racist, while others maintain that it serves a useful purpose: identifying white women who have engaged in misogynistic or discriminatory behavior. Here are some of the most prominent Karens caught on camera.
1. Amy Cooper Calls the Police on a Black Man
Last Memorial Day, Amy Cooper – a white woman – called the police on a black man who was bird watching in Central Park in New York City’s Upper East Side. It was caught on video and quickly went viral.
It was an event that captured the nation’s attention and forced a national conversation about systemic racism. Additionally, video footage highlighted the risks of false accusations of racial violence made against police.
After the incident, Amy Cooper lost her job at Franklin Templeton and a criminal case was filed against her – which ultimately was dropped. Now she seeks restitution for her actions and is suing the investment firm for defamation.
In her lawsuit, she relies on the video as evidence that the company acted negligently when they fired her, asserting they had zero tolerance for racism and should have considered her personal safety before doing so. Furthermore, she claims that their May 26 tweet stating they had conducted an internal review of the incident before terminating her was defamatory.
According to CNN, Cooper was cleared of her charge after completing a psychoeducation and therapy program that focused on racial equity. A senior prosecutor asked Manhattan court to dismiss the misdemeanor charge of falsely reporting an incident, and Judge Anne Swern agreed.
Prosecutors allege that Cooper’s initial 911 call to police reported Christian Cooper, a Black birdwatcher, as threatening her and her dog. She then made another call to report an attempted assault inside Rambles Park where dogs are not permitted.
2. Stacy Talbert Calls the Police on a Black Man
Stacy Talbert, 41-year-old sheriff’s deputy from McIntosh County in Georgia, captured the attention of social media with her video about a delayed breakfast order at McDonald’s. Though restaurant owners did not go out of their way to award Talbert with any awards for her video, they did take notice and promised that they would do better in the future.
Though the internet is full of tawdry stories and fake news, this one stands out for its sheer absurdity. It is one of the rare cases in history where a police officer has been deceived from the start. After sharing this video on Twitter and Facebook, right-wing commentators took notice and spread it around; sparking waves of schadenfreude among those who felt it painted humanity in an unfavorable light. Meanwhile, media frenzy attracted an equally large number of people looking for something humorous or sharing with their friends – many with personal connections to the subject – who had nothing else to do but laugh along with them!
4. Stacy Talbert Calls the Police on a Black Woman
Stacy Talbert, a McIntosh County sheriff’s deputy in Georgia, posted a video on Facebook Live to express her displeasure with not receiving all of her order at a fast-food restaurant. It went viral Wednesday and received mixed reactions; some sympathized with her situation while others weren’t so much. As Talbert explained to NBC News on Wednesday morning, this incident also served as an example of how people can have differing opinions about police officers.
Talbert said she recorded the clip to share her experience and let people know police are not always treated well by the public. Earlier that day, she visited McDonald’s in Richmond Hill, Georgia and ordered a McMuffin, hash browns, and coffee; when her order wasn’t given to her full satisfaction she started crying as she waited for it to come out. Later, she contacted the restaurant and complained about what transpired NBC reports.
The video gained momentum on social media and quickly attracted the attention of conservatives who were outraged by Talbert’s treatment by restaurant staff. While some police critics praised her for acting entitled and being overdramatic, Talbert herself acknowledged her behavior was justified.
The social media reaction to the video, which has now been viewed 8.2 million times, illustrates deep divisions in America about police officers. As Black Lives Matter protesters and others have called for change, many Americans have grown less trustful of law enforcement officers. Critics contend that law enforcement agencies are being used as an easy way to punish black people without due process or due justice.
5. Stacy Talbert Calls the Police on a Black Woman
If you haven’t heard of the term “Karen,” it’s a meme used to denote white women who act entitled and overreact to seemingly innocuous situations. Recently, this trend has gained steam as COVID-19 pandemic awareness and national conversations around race relations and police brutality have gained ground in our collective consciousness.
McIntosh County, Georgia police officer Stacy Talbert posted a moving Facebook Live video about her experience at McDonald’s that quickly went viral. Not only did the 15-year officer’s account of the fast food joint become a worldwide sensation; but it also garnered attention within both the restaurant and social media circles.
Talbert recounts her order of an English McMuffin and coffee, which took an unusually long time to process. She became concerned that the restaurant might deny her service because she is a police officer. When asked to repeat her order, Talbert wept as she recorded it.
While she filmed the video, she expressed fear that an employee might mess with her food or make it appear that she hadn’t ordered anything. But soon enough, two fast-food employees arrived and brought out her coffee.
After being shared on Twitter, Talbert’s video quickly ignited a national dialogue about the tensions being experienced by many Americans – particularly at fast-food chains. One Twitter user praised Talbert’s actions as “brave,” while another wrote that she should be proud of herself for voicing her complaints.
Talbert has since come forward and explained that her video had nothing to do with the delayed McMuffin order, but rather with the public’s lack of trust in law enforcement. Additionally, she was being honest about the current state of her job which has been negatively impacted by protests over COVID-19 pandemic and racism in America.
