In September 2019, Tropical Storm Karen inspired a plethora of jokes and memes online. You may have also seen it on websites like “I Can Has Cheezburger?,” where users share memes from the perspective of dogs and cats. Though just now seeing mainstream notoriety, “Karen” has been around for quite some time. Where did Karen as a slang term originate? “Oh, when Karens take a walk with their dogs off-leash in the famous Bramble in NY’s Central Park,” Melody Cooper wrote, only further cementing the online “Karen” lore. (Coincidentally, the story broke the same day a Minneapolis police officer murdered an innocent Black man by kneeling on his neck.) “I’m going to tell them there’s an African-American man threatening my life,” she said, in the viral video that Christian Cooper’s sister Melody later posted to Twitter, before placing a hysterical 911 call. When Amy Cooper quickly became belligerent with him, Christian Cooper started filming the interaction. On May 25, a woman named Amy Cooper became involved in a verbal altercation with a Black man named Christian Cooper (an avid bird watcher) who simply asked her to leash her dog, in accordance with the clearly posted signs in the bird-watching retreat known as The Ramble in New York City’s famous public park. from FuckYouKaren The ‘Central Park Karen’ incidentĪnd then, in the midst of all of this, the Central Park incident occurred.

No ma’am, we can’t sell you a palette of toilet paper. “The sick are being taken care of, if you’re sick, stay home in your house. We’re tired of not being able to buy the things we need, go to the hairdresser, get our hair done,” she said in an interview.

“It’s time for our state to be opened back up. One such so-called Karen went viral during a Michigan reopening protest in April, in her justification of blocking essential healthcare workers from getting to the hospital to treat COVID-19 patients. And she most certainly doesn’t want to wear a mask while doing so-nor does she want the working-class people who serve her to wear them, either. She wants to go shopping and go out to eat. Karen-who tends to lean anti-vaxxer, naturally-just wants to get her hair and nails done. When the coronavirus pandemic forced cities and states across the country to impose social distancing guidelines, the Karens did not like this. It is, for this reason, why it seems as though we’re suddenly living in the golden age of Karens. Heather Suzanne Woods, a meme researcher and professor at Kansas State University, recently told the Atlantic that the defining essence of a Karen is “entitlement, selfishness, and a desire to complain.” These women “demand that the world exists according to her standards with little regard for others, and she is willing to risk or demean others to achieve her ends.” Karen memes in the age of COVID-19 Not every Karen is one of these variations, but every one of these variations is, most certainly, a Karen.

Karen is sometimes known by other names, such as BBQ Becky, Permit Patty, or Cornerstore Caroline-as the variety of Karen who calls the cops on people of color who happen to be minding their own damn business. Yes-we are indeed talking about “Karen,” and you likely even know one yourself! She almost definitely has a “live, laugh, love” placard somewhere in her home. She may drive an SUV, or engage in multi-level marketing schemes selling essential oils or leggings.

She tends to be white, middle-aged, upper-middle-class, and is often known for wearing her hair in a close-cropped, blunt, assertive style. You may have even encountered her in real life, making a scene and demanding to speak to a manager at places like Starbucks or Target. You’ve probably seen her online, or in the news, typically after going viral due to public tantrums fueled by her perceived, deeply ingrained victim mentality.

Becky vs karen