BY: Walker
Published 3 years ago
“Karen” was recorded in a New Jersey Victoria’s Secret store chasing a Black woman in a bizarre incident.
via: Complex
Indeed, mere weeks after a trailer for a Karen horror film was released, reality has birthed another example of a so-called “Karen” in action.
This time, the footage comes from a Victoria’s Secret location in New Jersey, where Ijeoma Ukenta was shopping when a woman who has since been identified in multiple reports as Abigail Elphick allegedly attempted to strike her. In fact, in the first clip that has since gone viral on Twitter, this particular Karen is seen striking at the camera before immediately shifting her behavior.
From there, Elphick is seen placing what appears to be a purse on the ground before resting her head on it. At another point, she’s seen—again on the ground—violently shaking her legs while screaming about being recorded. Elsewhere in the footage, shared first to TikTok before being released in multiple parts on YouTube, Elphick is seen appearing to chase Ukenta.
Eventually security arrived on the scene, with Ukenta—as she revealed in a subsequent update (see below)—later going to the station for the resulting police report.
“I have the police report which is somewhat true but really, really long,” she said in a video shared Monday. “I’m happy I did record. … And mind you, they took her statement first because she called the police and she completely lied.”
According to the report, the woman claimed that being recorded caused a panic attack. Ukenta said she’s now filing a complaint against the two responding officers, as well as mall security.
https://youtu.be/iyqMcII3x9w
Ukenta has also started a GoFundMe asking donors to help her “defend myself against Karen.” At the time of this writing, the fundraiser—the description for which says it will help Ukenta hire “an excellent attorney”—is coming up on $40,000 in donations.
Below, see how the latest entry in the Karen catalog has been received online, including insight on why it’s necessary to record such incidents as a matter of self-protection.
People think this is funny, but if there’s no recording, she’s going to jail. The tears of white women historically has been used as a weapon against black people
— Jordan Saunders, MD (@JSaundyy_23) July 12, 2021
She gets a Razzie for that one.. The award for “Its not Victoria’s Secret that she was faking it” goes to Karen in aisle 2. pic.twitter.com/crQgC5XDoj
— KB (@MzKRB) July 12, 2021
Karen chasing a lady around Victoria’s Secret making pterodactyl screeching sounds pairs very well with my coffee this morning.
— .:RiotGrlErin:. (@RiotGrlErin) July 13, 2021
https://twitter.com/bradleyberdecia/status/1414740961662541824?s=20
https://twitter.com/vhee_rose/status/1414971342122889222?s=20
PSA: The same people claiming the #Karen at @VictoriasSecret in NJ was suffering from mental illness would never entertain that same thought if that was a black woman.
— Cannabae (@eabannac) July 13, 2021
Please stop blaming mental illness for Karens and Kens.
Millions of people have suffered with mental illness our entire lives, and we'd never have public meltdowns or harass people of color or berate store clerks or slap children.
Let's stop giving privilege a pass.
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) July 13, 2021
They need to start charging all these women, that’s one way to stop the Karens.
