In the last few years, the term Karen has been used as a placeholder term for a woman whose entitlement (which they're usually oblivious to) makes them act out in over-the-top ways.
Recently a trio of women whose real names are Karen went on UK show This Morning to tell the world that Karen has become a slur, being called a Karen is bad enough that some Karens are considering changing their names and the whole thing is the Black Lives Matter movement's fault.
The interview, which is just over eight minutes long and features no people of color or any rebuttal from anyone associated with the Black Lives Matter movement, has made major waves on social media.
Meet the Karens Who Are Taking a Stand Against the Memes | This Morningwww.youtube.com
Karen Masters, who has set up a petition protesting the use of the term and is also working on changing her name, explained her stance.
"When the Black Lives Matter protests started, there was a lot of media putting Karen as racist. It sort of took on a life of its own and I feel that we can't, as Karens, now talk about how it's affecting us because we are told that we're entitled if we do this. So I set up a Change.org to show that this is not fair for us to have to put up with this."
"We're labeled as racist, entitled and we're just not that sort of person. It's totally unfair and we want the media and the tabloid and the papers to stop using our name to describe racist people."
A portion of the interview was posted on Twitter.
To put it gently, the Karen's sentiments were not well received.
@ScrumptiousDubs I just really want another actual Karen to call in to tell them she thinks it's hilarious and that… https://t.co/FH50ujwCsq— Samantha Wood (@Samantha Wood) 1596461363.0
@thismorning The irony is, those three people called Karen, became Karens by going on the show and whinging about it.— flee_337 (@flee_337) 1596637917.0
I am creasing watching This Morning interviewing women called Karen. One woman has started a… https://t.co/3F5TuKmXvm— LCR (@LCR) 1596645952.0
@nerdinplussize @thismorning Free the Karen Three ... they have been oppressed for too long— Gary Reeves (@Gary Reeves) 1596458444.0
Getting caught up with The Karen's ™️ on This Morning ... Are they really trying to play the discrimination card?? https://t.co/hdceH5tvvv— ᴸᵃⁿᵃ ᴰᵉˡ ᴳᵃʸ (@ᴸᵃⁿᵃ ᴰᵉˡ ᴳᵃʸ) 1596667051.0
@thismorning Karen wants people to stop calling entitled women Karens. She went on TV to argue why she is entitled… https://t.co/BUgM5RdO58— Zac Main (@Zac Main) 1596632736.0
A bunch of women called Karen going on This Morning and saying Karen is a racial slur is the most Karen thing ever.— clair st blair or whatever i dunno (@clair st blair or whatever i dunno) 1596624685.0
The tear-filled interview may have been intended to show the world that these three women named Karen were not, in fact, Karens in their day to day lives - but based on the public response to the spot it may have done the exact opposite.
They hoped to clear their names and show the world that they are not entitled or racist, but by pinning the blame on the Black Lives Matter movement and literally crying on television about their oppression they became exactly the thing they were fighting against as far as people are concerned.