Crazy Karens YouTube Stories

Karma for Karens
By Karma for Karens
11 Min Read

Recent buzz surrounding the “Karen” meme on Reddit and other social media platforms has elevated it from being a short-lived joke to something of cultural importance, according to meme curators Riley Beek and Blake Bell.

Karens are typically white middle-aged women who act irrationally in public. They’re known for calling the police, screaming and making a scene.

1. The ‘Victoria’s Secret Karen’

Ijeoma Ukenta, a Nigerian American woman from New Jersey, was in Victoria’s Secret when Abigail Elphick approached her and recorded the encounter which has gone viral.

Video evidence indicates Elphick nudged Ukenta aside while she was searching through pants for a free pair. After that, she started screaming and chasing her around the store; even appearing to hit her briefly before backing away when she realized she was being filmed.

Ukenta, who is Black, asserted that the shopper’s behavior was both unexpected and racially motivated. She claims that just before recording, the blonde almost attacked her but that once the camera started rolling her attitude quickly changed and she became the victim instead.

The video, which has amassed more than 70,000 likes and over 2,500 comments, shows a shopper crying in agony as she tried to pass out while Ukenta’s camera was recording. Later, police reported her account of events as false; however, a store manager corroborated it.

Victoria’s Secret Karen, also known as IamLoveKills, is currently under investigation by Millburn, NJ police. After raising over $85,000 on GoFundMe to hire an attorney, she claims TikTok unfairly barred her account, allowing the user @IamLoveKills’ reposts of her videos to remain online and garner millions of views.

This white woman’s actions serve as a stark reminder of how White privilege can be weaponized against people of color. She screamed and shouted, attempted to punch or swat at Ukenta’s phone, and yelled for them to stop recording. When she realized what was being recorded, she backed away and threw the garment she was holding onto the counter.

2. The ‘I Have A Black Husband’ Karen

White people have a longstanding tradition of abusing Black people due to their privilege. This foundation for racism has resulted in centuries of white supremacy and systemic inequality in this country; Karens are just another example.

On Monday, Karlos Dillard from Seattle recorded a woman screaming and saying “I have a Black husband” after she cut him off during a road rage incident. The video has gone viral since then, garnering over 4 million views.

Dillard, a self-described entertainer and public speaker who is black, posted the video to his Instagram and Twitter accounts. In it, he claimed she cut him off while driving, spun around to follow him, gave him the finger, cursed at him and called him the N-word.

Dillard’s video went viral, and within hours he began selling t-shirts quoting the incident. Critics claim his attempt at profit-making from this incident proves he is a scammer.

But the video also caused controversy within parts of the anti-racist community that are usually supportive. One Black Lives Matter supporter noted that Dillard seemed far more distressed about the woman cutting him off and flipping him off than about her supposed racial slur.

Williams notes that Karen’s legacy has enabled a new discourse about racism to emerge in this country. Incidents which might otherwise go ignored – like when a white woman in San Francisco called the cops on someone for writing “Black Lives Matter” on his property – became national news stories when placed within its memetic framework.

3. The ‘Karen Screaming’

If you look at social-media videos of people losing their temper in clothing stores or supermarkets, chances are there will be more Karens than Kens. This trend is especially evident on Twitter, Facebook US:FB and Instagram where people choose to film and share these crazy events.

Karens are self-righteous white women who believe their lifestyle to be superior to everyone else’s, even when this may not be the case. If she’s not satisfied with a service received, Karen may demand to speak to the manager, call the police or degrade an employee in some way.

These women often don’t understand why they feel so frustrated with the world. Yet, sexism that permeates their culture makes them feel as if they’re somewhere other than where they actually are.

Some commentators assert these incidents are more than just instances of racial tension; they reveal the extent to which white Americans reaffirm their power by “othering” people of color in their homes, workplaces or schools. It’s an effort to maintain a predominantly white socio-economic structure while creating an invisible wall which keeps them away from those of color.

Many believe this strategy is connected to the rise of anti-vax conspiracy theories, which may lead to racist microaggressions. Aram Sinnreich, an associate professor of communication at American University in Washington, D.C., notes that these “Karen” behaviors are “reflecting a generational transfer of white economic power that allows them to hold positions where they have little or no interaction with people of color.”

Amy Cooper of San Francisco called the cops on her neighbor after he scrawled “Black Lives Matter” on his lawn, prompting Shamann Walton, a city supervisor, to propose a law which would make it illegal for someone to falsely report crimes. This legislation, known as CAREN Act or Caution Against Racially Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act, is being introduced by Shamann Walton who serves on the CAREN board.

4. The ‘Dirty Work’ Karen

If you’ve been on social media in the past few years, you’ve probably seen a number of memes that use “Karen” to mock people who don’t conform to mainstream gender standards or beauty standards. These include everything from “Talkback Tammys” to “Beckys,” the latter being particularly popular with white men making fun of women.

One of the latest Karens is the ‘Dirty Work’ Karen, a YouTube video that follows an insidious character who takes on a number of seemingly impossible jobs to try and prove her point. These jobs range from flying military drones to processing meat and policing a prison, and the dirty work is disproportionately carried out by people of color and low-income workers with few other options.

In her book, “Dirty Work,” author Jessamyn West describes these occupations as “morally suspect,” not just because of the emotional challenges they present, but also because of the inequalities that shape who is doing them and where they are done. The “dirty work” of flight pilots, police officers and slaughterhouse workers is carried out disproportionately by immigrants, people of color and low-income people who have few other job options.

As for the ‘Dirty Work’ character, she does her best to take on these jobs, but she often doesn’t succeed in getting them done properly. This leads her to feel like she’s a failure, and that isn’t helping her.

While this cliche-laden Karen story isn’t as effective as some of the other YouTube videos, it does offer an interesting glimpse into how a person can be framed and stereotyped. In fact, it could be a great lesson for those who find themselves in such positions.

5. The ‘Sexy Karen’

Chances are if you’re on the internet, you’ve encountered a video featuring one or more “Karens”. These women have become iconic icons of YouTube culture and often feature prominently when it comes to viral video success.

Karens are middle-aged women between 35 and 55 years old who are known for being loud, obnoxious, and unaware that they’re being filmed. Karens enjoy public displays of irritation and often carry their frustration on their sleeve.

These women can be seen in shopping malls, Starbucks lines and on the highway driving in carpool lanes. They possess an intense will to survive that puts them in a real danger to those around them.

They may have an aggressive demeanor, but they can be highly seductive. Their one-track mind and lack of empathy make them particularly challenging to deal with; you won’t feel at peace until you have their number.

If you encounter Karen in the grocery store, don’t take it personally. She may just be having a difficult day and needs time to relax.

Before engaging with her about anything serious, it’s wise to give her some space. She may be all ears but you won’t get any serious sexual advances from her if you try too hard or even compliment her on her clothes.

She’s passionate about guns and their Second Amendment rights, so if you want to excite her, talk about your rifle collection. You’ll be amazed how quickly she warms up to you and gets on board.

Today on My Favorite Murder, Georgia and Karen share two bonus hometown stories taken directly from the Fan Cult forum. You’ll hear them discuss a terrible doctor who shouldn’t be trusted, as well as how to cope with an unexplained vibration in your house.

Share This Article