The “Karen effect,” as it’s been popularly labeled on social media, involves white women who become emotional when confronted with minor inconveniences. They frequently throw fits at Starbucks and demand to speak to their managers after every minor annoyance.
Karen videos have drawn a great deal of attention, yet some criticize them for simplifying complex issues. Others contend they are sexist and racist in nature.
1. Amy Cooper Calls 911 on Christian Cooper
In the viral video, Cooper calls 911 in a state of panic, falsely alleging Christian Cooper is threatening her life. She also yelps and thrashes her dog Henry while asking for assistance.
On April 11, 1989, unarmed black man George Floyd died while being detained by police in Minneapolis; this incident served as a stark reminder of how white people can use their privilege to harass and threaten Black Americans.
But the mystery remains: How did this occur?
Amy Cooper, a white woman, called 911 on Christian Cooper, an African-American man bird-watching in Central Park. She allegedly stated that Christian was “African American” and felt threatened by him.
After her call ignited weeks of anti-racism demonstrations and led to an apology for her actions, Franklin Templeton fired her without investigation and had her dog euthanized; but now she is suing the company, alleging they falsely portrayed her as racist in order to promote their business interests.
She is suing the company for race and gender discrimination, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Furthermore, she holds them responsible for violating both the Americans with Disabilities Act and state law by failing to provide her with a written policy on discrimination, harassment, and sexual harassment.
Amy Cooper’s behavior is particularly troubling because it illustrates white privilege and an attitude that would never be accepted by someone of color. It’s a sign of white supremacy – the idea that white people are superior to people of other races.
In a society that prioritizes whiteness, people like Amy Cooper are not uncommon. Not only does she perpetuate racist beliefs and practices that are deeply embedded in her culture, but she also uses her power to harass and threaten people of color disproportionately against Black Americans.
There are many reasons why she behaved so badly in this instance, but the one that stands out most is her apparent ignorance of how to use her power in a positive manner that does not harm others. It serves as a testament to the extent of her privilege.
2. Sophia Rosing
Sophia Rosing, 22, a white student at the University of Kentucky, was caught on video shouting racist slurs and physically attacking two Black students. On Sunday she was arrested and charged with assault, public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
Her behavior has astounded many on social media. Many have labeled her an embarrassment and called on the University of Kentucky to expel her from school.
In the infamous video, she is seen punching Kylah Spring, who worked at the dormitory’s front desk. Additionally, she repeatedly used the n-word and other racial slurs against Spring.
On Sunday morning at 1:30am in Boyd Hall, a dorm building for UK students, an incident occurred. Spring reported that she was waiting for an R.A. (Relations Agent) to check on her when Rosing approached her.
After calling the police, Rosing began shouting and using a variety of racial slurs at Spring before she attacked her. She punched her in both arms and legs, bit her, and kicked her in the stomach.
She was then arrested and booked into Fayette County Jail, where she has remained since then. Her bond was set at $10,000, and she is not permitted to contact the victim.
Her attorney, Fred Peters, told NBC his client is “deeply embarrassed” and will seek assistance for her problems. He added that she will attend a racial sensitivity program to assist her with dealing with the consequences of her actions.
In the video, Rosing appears to be intoxicated and makes disparaging comments about Black students. She’s also accused of punching and biting an officer during her arrest.
Though the video is still widely circulated online, it has already been taken down from Instagram and TikTok due to violations of their terms of service. The University of Kentucky announced that Rosing would no longer be welcome on campus and her name has been changed to Jane Doe on their jail website.
Her lawyer, Fred Peters, also confirmed that her client will enter rehab to seek help for her issues. She plans on taking a racial sensitivity course and will be under observation to monitor her behaviour; furthermore, she has been permanently banned from the university and cannot re-enroll.
3. Amy Cooper’s Mother
The internet is filled with videos of Karens behaving badly, and this trend shows no signs of stopping. These women are often seen spitting at, cursing out, or pointing guns at people – such as a St. Louis personal-injury lawyer couple known as “Ken and Karen.” Additionally, they’ve been caught yelling at their children – such as this video showing an unidentified woman falsely accusing a 14-year-old of stealing her phone.
These viral videos serve as a reminder that white people still wield an unfair amount of power in the United States, manipulating the justice system to their benefit, instilling police officers with fear and intimidating protesters.
It can be a risky game, particularly in the digital age. Viral videos often get shared and retweeted quickly, leading to outcries on both social media and in mainstream media outlets. Furthermore, these rebranding efforts often reinforce an inaccurate or unfair white-power narrative that often goes unchallenged.
These videos challenge us to reevaluate how we interact with white people in general. They remind us of the corroded barbed wire that separates some White Americans from those of color, reminding us to think twice before passing judgment on any individual.
One of the latest viral videos to surface is one featuring a White woman shouting at a Black man during a football game. She puts her fingers in his face, scolds him and then repeatedly shouts at the top of her lungs while he attempts to run away. After she leaves, she comes back and continues her tirade of shouting at him over and over.
This video has gone viral, being viewed more than 3 million times on Twitter. It serves as a stark reminder that even the most progressive among us can be complicit in acts of racism or sexism.
It’s no shock that these videos often elicit self-righteous criticism from white people, yet that doesn’t change the fact that there are many Karens out there who behave badly but never get caught on film. These individuals exist within our neighborhoods and schools, and we need to be aware of them.
4. Karen’s Dog in Central Park
Karen can get easily irascible, as evidenced by the many viral videos of her misbehavior on TikTok. These clips have amassed millions of views since their release.
One of the latest Karens was a white woman who shouted racial slurs at a Black store manager at Ross. It was recorded and uploaded to TikTok, where it has now amassed 2 million views.
In the video, a woman shouts at the store manager in an offensive and sexist manner, throwing racial slurs her way. She refers to herself as an “ignorant mother f*cking bitch,” and when asked for her departure by the manager, she leaves without permission.
As the video went viral, people pointed out that the dog walker was off leash in Central Park’s Ramble – where dogs must always be leashed. Her pup also appeared to be running wild through bushes nearby.
As you can see in the video, a dog walker calls police on Christian Cooper – who is not her relative – for allegedly asking her to put her dog on a leash in The Ramble. She claims he threatened her but this is unclear from the recording.
Many have decried viral “Karen” videos, yet others point out that these instances are often brief glimpses into real interactions that can be edited and manipulated. Furthermore, videos usually originate from one location so observers tend to overlook important details that would help shape the narrative.
Contrary to popular belief, there are actually quite a few Karens around the world. Although most are white women, their presence isn’t limited solely to red states.
CNN contributor Karen Sun points out that people from different backgrounds often come together in the real world, and sometimes a name can make all the difference when it comes to how someone is perceived. She adds that this is especially true for women of color who may need to navigate their identity differently than white people do.
