A woman from Astoria, New York is being called out for her Karen-like behavior online after a video caught her intentionally coughing on another woman.
Video captured at the New York Bagel Coffee House shows the woman being confronted by another patron over her lack of a mask.
The unmasked woman is immediately aggressive, shouting:
"You can't say it to my face, you p*ssy?!''
Called out for not wearing a mask...
So she coughs on somebody, not realizing she is being recorded.
Y'all need to act right. pic.twitter.com/cudHs7Rk5X
— DeMarcus 🛹 (@semperdiced) June 13, 2020
Shortly thereafter, the anonymous unmasked woman walks over to the other woman and makes a big show of coughing on her.
She then turns around and is surprised by someone else recording video.
Happened at the New York City Bagel Coffee House in #Astoria. Someone ID this #Karen pic.twitter.com/JejioqJnjk
— Tao Wi (@NikkiNicoleXO) June 13, 2020
The coffee house issued a statement condemning the unmasked woman's behavior.
The woman who was coughed on identified herself as Ally Goodbaum online, and wrote on Facebook:
"Words truly cannot express my disappointment in humanity these days. I know there are bigger problems in the nation right now but more and more it seems the people who are just trying to standup for the right things are getting bulldozed by bullies."
Where does she work?
Character matters and we are in the middle of a pandemic, her behavior constitutes reckless disregard.
That establishment should never allow her to enter again.
— Constance Graham (@wilsongraham123) June 13, 2020
Some on social media suspected the unmasked woman was a worker in the research department of Weill Cornell Medicine.
Weill Cornell seemed to confirm this by issuing a statement which claims she no longer works for them.
"As an institution on the COVID-19 frontlines, this behavior is shocking & abhorrent to us. Since WCM's mission is to protect the health & wellbeing of all NYers, we condemn this flagrant disregard of public safety."
In almost all states, this conduct is assault.
In many, it is satisfies the criteria for bioterrorism.
People are already being charged for these acts.
Report it to the police when you see it or experience it, and press charges.https://t.co/cvO2CEF6Ti
— Monty 🇺🇸Curve The Curve🇺🇸 Boa (@MontyBoa99) June 13, 2020
Twitter also made their feelings about the woman clear, labelling her a "Karen," which has become online shorthand for a White woman displaying entitled, harmful behavior.
I said it before. Coughing on someone should equate to assault. Furthermore, businesses should ban anyone that does this type of behavior, FOR LIFE! I would like to see a Walmart or Costco exec. implement this ASAP...!
— Gunjee (@pheeelosopher) June 14, 2020
But I wish businesses would be more proactive in protecting customers by not serving those without masks. We've seen the video at Costco where someone who refused to wear a mask had his shopping cart taken away. Why can't more businesses care about the safety of their customers?
— jimrin (@jimrin) June 13, 2020
Kovid Karen pic.twitter.com/M7nOha6Iem
— Chaz Cooper 🏳️🌈🇨🇦 (@ChazReddBear) June 13, 2020
Though states are rolling back their restrictions, experts agree the virus is still a very real threat.
These need to go up in EVERY business! pic.twitter.com/d7a4fgEVSY
— 📚 🌊🕯 𝔸 ℕ𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝 𝔾𝕠𝕕𝕕𝕖𝕤𝕤(@🏡)😷 🆘️📚 (@booksanescape) June 13, 2020
People already been arrested for doing that here in the UK. I don't get why wearing masks that reduce the risk of infection is such a big deal for you.
— theresav (@hagrat1) June 13, 2020
People putting others in danger through their lack of precautions are being held accountable by their fellow citizens. However anger needs to be tempered with the knowledge that some people cannot wear a mask for various reasons.
However the words and actions of this "Karen" indicated that was not the situation she was in.
@jimmyfallon/Instagram