The viral trend “Karen,” a derogatory term for white women who engage in racially charged behavior, has become an effective way to confront the complex space white women occupy as victims, possessors of privilege and perpetrators of racism.
No matter if you’re a healthcare worker, gas station attendant or just an ordinary person, Karen public freakouts can leave behind an expensive mess to clean up. Below we have outlined all of the legal repercussions that could occur for such deplorable acts.
1. Police Arrests
Recently, we’ve seen a rise in white women perceived as “Karen” by social media users. These individuals use their privilege and power to exert an oppressive level of force against people of color that is often overtly racist and damaging.
In Central Park, a middle-aged white woman named Amy Cooper made headlines when she falsely accused a black bird watcher of threatening her and saying that she feared for her life. The video has since gone viral.
Karen incidents have been dominating news headlines for several years, prompting social justice organizations to call for action against these “Karens.” Last year, a law was passed that requires individuals who make racially biased phone calls to police officers to pay a fine.
Law enforcement has even arrested some Karens for committing violent crimes. Recently, two Karens made headlines for allegedly trying to shoot protesters with their own guns.
As the world pauses to focus on the coronavirus pandemic, Karens are still fighting their corner. Not only are they taking to social media with dramatic claims that employees have tampered with them, but they’re also going after Black people for seemingly minor things like wearing masks in restaurants.
Some have criticized the use of “Karen” as sexist, yet others argue that it helps these women distance themselves from their actions. By not using their real names, they avoid being identified as perpetrators of racial bias or discrimination.
However, these names only serve to further depersonalize the incident and leave these women vulnerable to doxxing, harassment and retaliation. While some of these incidents are low-stakes affairs, other cases have put Black people’s lives in jeopardy.
Karen was caught on video calling 911 on a Black family for having a cookout at the lake in 2018, because she believed they weren’t abiding by park regulations. Another infamous Karen is the woman who attempted to reserve parking spots at an airport in order to prevent other passengers from boarding their flights.
2. Suspension
The internet has been abuzz with a video of a white woman having an emotional breakdown inside of Victoria’s Secret store. But what exactly happened behind the scenes of this bizarre encounter?
In a viral video, Karen — also known by her online handle — experienced an emotional meltdown while shopping at Victoria’s Secret. According to Yahoo Life, the clip has amassed over 8 million views on YouTube.
Many were outraged by this, not only for the alleged racist behavior but also because it was captured on camera. Furthermore, footage was shared across social media platforms and sparked a national conversation about race and class.
Some have criticized the term Karen, calling it offensive and sexist. On the other hand, others believe it serves to highlight injustice and those who get away with being racist, entitled, and ignorant.
Karen is a derogatory term often used to denote an arrogant white woman. She may demand answers for minor infractions as much as she calls the police on Black people going about their business.
Karen memes come in many forms, many of which appear on Reddit. Additionally, it was linked to Dane Cook’s 2005 comedy special.
Karen public freakouts on social media have often been about classism or misogyny, but they also serve to highlight systemic racism and racial tensions. It’s essential to remember that Karens don’t just exist in the South; they can be found around the world and in all walks of life.
The Karen meme poses a serious risk, as it trivializes an otherwise serious behavior by making it into a joke. It’s important to remember that Karen’s actions are motivated by privilege and could ultimately result in someone’s death.
3. Legal Action
The internet has become overrun with videos of people using racist or abusive language. Many of these clips have been edited, raising doubts about their authenticity.
One such case is “Aunt Karen,” a TikTok account that harasses people who use the words “nigger” or “nigga.” Her 150k followers on the app claim she has successfully got several people fired from their jobs and their social media profiles shut down, according to reports. On Twitter too, she uses her following to harass others either to get them fired from their jobs or gain access to personal information which she then shares with her 150k followers.
She’s even been known to use her 150k followers to hire a hacker to take down a YouTube channel of someone she finds racist. Most of her supporters are women of color, but she occasionally makes some white guys go crazy with her public freakouts.
Another example of a Karen Public Freakout occurred at Victoria’s Secret in Michigan, where a woman who appeared to be experiencing mental health issues was captured on video chasing a Black woman through the store. This incident is only the latest in an array of viral Karen Public Freakouts where Black people have been filmed being harassed by white women.
While some of these incidents may seem justified in the moment, they also demonstrate a lack of consideration for both other people’s mental health and one’s own. This is especially evident when the White woman involved is clearly distressed and dealing with an actual mental health issue.
In some instances, Karens’ behavior can be racially motivated and lead to serious police charges or prosecution. This is particularly common when the victim has been accused of an offense that isn’t a criminal offense, such as spitting on them or threatening them.
In an especially shocking instance, an American woman was arrested for falsely accusing a Black man of threatening her life while asking him to put her dog on a leash in Central Park. It wasn’t until after the video went viral that Karen was prosecuted for making such an unfounded accusation and calling the cops without cause.
4. Damages
Karen Public Freakouts can be both entertaining and upsetting, but some of them may cause real harm to innocent people if recorded by someone with the intent to use that footage against those responsible for causing the disturbance.
For instance, a woman called the police on a Black family having a picnic in a park because she believed they weren’t abiding by park rules. She recorded the incident and shared it on her Facebook page.
The video went viral and caused outrage at how selfish Karen’s actions were. In it, she calls the police on a family sitting at a picnic gazebo and shouts at them. Additionally, Karen takes out her cell phone to film herself yelling at the cops.
Karens are notorious for their selfish nature and obnoxious attitudes, so you would expect this type of response from them. But there’s one particular trait that drives Karen to behave this way: lack of self-control.
These women tend to act out in public and cause trouble for various reasons. Usually, their aim is to spark up conversation or provoke confrontation; although this strategy rarely works, they do often manage to garner a lot of attention in the process.
Some Karens go so far as to film every fight or confrontation they engage in. This can be a selfish move on their part and often leads to serious outcomes.
A woman in Ohio was caught on camera refusing to wear a mask while shopping at the store, even after hearing an employee tell her so. Additionally, she ignored the law and shouted at police when they attempted to search her.
Karens have a tendency to yell at police, which can be highly aggressive and dangerous. In some cases, officers may even taser them. These incidents can have devastating results for young women or minorities – they could lose their job or face criminal charges.
