H O M E PA G E

HOME CULTURE

How the name 'Karen' became a

stand-in for problematic white
women and a hugely popular
meme

Rachel E. Greenspan Oct 26, 2020, 3:43 PM

Download the app

The "Karen" meme has evolved to reference a hair

style, white women who ask to speak to the manager,
and people being racist in public. Left to right: Michael
Kovac/FilmMagic; Melody Cooper/Twitter;
@savsoares/TikTok

The "Karen" meme is being used to

describe women who commit acts in
public that are perceived to be racist,
such as unjustly calling the police on
Black people.

The meme, often combined with the

"Can I speak to the manager?"
haircut, is used as a "pejorative for
middle-aged white women" to depict
their entitlement, a senior editor at
Know Your Meme said.

While it's hard to conNrm the true

origins of the meme, many believe it's
derived from a Dane Cook comedy
routine.

But the use of viral monikers becomes

problematic when it assigns an
innocuous and anonymous name to a
person who has seemingly committed
overtly racist actions.

Visit Insider's homepage for more

stories.

Sign up for our newsletter for the

latest tech news and scoops —
delivered daily to your inbox.

Email address

SIGN UP

By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from

Insider as well as other partner oLers and accept our Terms of
Service and Privacy Policy.

!"#$%"&'("&)*+,-.&,"/%0"1&'("&0/2"&$#&/
3(-'"&3$2/0&3($&./,,"1&'("&)$,-."&$0&/
!,/.4&2/0&-0&5"0'%/,&6/%4&$0&7/8&9:;
<("&.$*,1&"/<-,8&+"&-1"0'-="1&+8&/
2$0-4"%>&?("&-0'"%0"'&/@%""1&3-'(
."%'/-0'8&'(/'&A28&5$$)"%&3/<&/
BC/%"0>B

D/8<&,/'"%;&/0$'("%&3$2/0&3"0'&E-%/,&#$%
,"/0-0@&$0&/&./%&-0&/&)/%4-0@&,$'&'$
)%"E"0'&'("&1%-E"%&#%$2&@"''-0@&'("-%
1"<-%"1&)/%4-0@&<)$'>&?("&-0'"%0"'
/@%""1&<("&'$$&3/<&/&C/%"0>

F0&'("&3""4<&<-0.";&'("&-0'"%0"'&(/<&+""0
"0'%/0."1&+8&E-%/,&E-1"$<&,/+",-0@
3$2"0&BC/%"0<;B&-0.,*1-0@&B.$*@(-0@
C/%"0;B&3($&.$*@("1&$0&)/'%$0<&/'&/
G"3&H$%4&5-'8&+/@",&<($);&/01&/&3$2/0
3($;&3-'(&("%&(*<+/01;&./,,"1&'("&)$,-."
$0&("%&0"-@(+$%&#$%&3%-'-0@&B!,/.4&I-E"<
7/''"%B&3-'(&.(/,4&$0&(-<&$30&)%$)"%'8>

?("&C/%"0&2"2";&3(-.(&(/<&+".$2"&<$
*+-J*-'$*<&-'K<&+""0&*<"1&/<&/&L/,,$3""0
.$<'*2";&+*%<'&$0&'$&'("&<."0"&-0&'("
)/<'&.$*),"&$#&8"/%<&'$&1"<.%-+"&3(-'"
3$2"0&)"%."-E"1&/<&/.'-0@&"0'-',"1&-0
)*+,-.>

G$3;&-'K<&*<"1&/<&/&2$0-4"%&#$%&/08&3(-'"
3$2/0&3($K<&'($*@('&'$&+"&/.'-0@
-0/))%$)%-/'",8;&%*1",8;&$%&-0&/0&"0'-',"1
2/00"%>

BF'K<&*<*/,,8&*<"1&/<&/&)"M$%/'-E"&#$%
2-11,"N/@"1&3(-'"&3$2"0;B&7/''
O.(-24$3-'P;&/&<"0-$%&"1-'$%&/'&C0$3
H$*%&7"2";&/0&$0,-0"&2"2"
"0.8.,$)"1-/;&</-1>

BF'K<&/,2$<'&,-4"&'("8&(/E"&/0
"0'-',"2"0';&3("%"&'("8K%"&4-01&$#
,$%1-0@&'("-%&)%-E-,"@"&$E"%&/0$'("%>B

Before Karen, there was the 'speak

to the manager' haircut

?("&B<)"/4&'$&'("&2/0/@"%B&(/-%.*'
+"./2"&-'<&$30&2"2"&+"#$%"&'("&C/%"0
.(/%/.'"%&'$$4&($,1&$0,-0">

A..$%1-0@&'$&C0$3&H$*%&7"2";&'("&M$4"
3/<&=%<'&)$<'"1&$0&Q"11-'&-0&9RST>
!"'3""0&9RSU&/01&9RSV;&'(/'&-1"/&+"@/0
'$&<)%"/1&'(%$*@($*'&Q"11-'&/01
<)/30"1&$'("%&-2/@"<;&-0.,*1-0@&B<'/%'"%
)/.4B&2"2"<>

?("&+"<';&/01&2$<'&-0#/2$*<;&"W/2),"
$#&'("&(/-%.*'&-0&%"/,&,-#"&3/<&3$%0&+8
C/'"&X$<<",-0&$#&'("&)$)*,/%&2-1N9RRR<
%"/,-'8&<($3&BY$0&Z&C/'"&6,*<&[;B&3(-.(
#$,,$3"1&/&2/%%-"1&.$*),"&%"/%-0@&"-@('
.(-,1%"0>

?("&(/-%.*'&-<&/&<-1"N<3")'&+$+&-0&'("
#%$0'&3-'(&<)-4"8&/01&2*.(&<($%'"%&(/-%
-0&'("&+/.4>

Know Your Meme

\-."&3%$'"&/+$*'&'("&B$#'"0N2/,-@0"1
(/-%.*'B&-0&].'$+"%&9RS[;&/%@*-0@&'(/'
'("&(/-%&<'8,"&-<&/.'*/,,8&-.$0-.&/01&/&B/
<$.-/,,8&0"."<</%8&<'8,"&$+M".'>B

BF'K<&/&E"%8&"/<8;&%".$@0-P/+,"&'(-0@&'$
2"2";B&O.(-24$3-'P&</-1;&/11-0@&'(/'
M*<'&/&0/2"&-'<",#&-<&(/%1&'$&2/4"&2"2"<
$*'&$#;&/01&'("&(/-%.*'&-2/@"%8&(",)"1
.$0'%-+*'"&'$&'("&C/%"0&.(/%/.'"%>&BA,,&$#
'("<"&","2"0'<&4-01&$#&+,"01&'$@"'("%>B

The origin is hard to pin down

^(-,"&'("%"&/%"&2/08&$%-@-0&<'$%-"<&#$%
'("&C/%"0&2"2";&-'K<&0$'&'$'/,,8&.,"/%
3("%"&-'&./2"&#%$2;&/<&-<&'("&./<"&3-'(
2/08&2"2"<>

B?("&$%-@-0<&$#&C/%"0&/%"&4-01&$#&%"/,,8
(/%1&'$&)-0&1$30;B&O.(-24$3-'P&</-1>

O.(-24$3-'P&</-1&'("&2$<'&.$0E-0.-0@
'("$%8&-<&'(/'&'("&.(/%/.'"%&$%-@-0/'"1
#%$2&/&D/0"&5$$4&.$2"18&<)".-/,&'(/'
/-%"1&-0&9RR:>

B_E"%8&@%$*)&(/<&/&C/%"0;&/01&<("&-<
/,3/8<&/&+/@&$#&1$*.(";B&5$$4&</-1&-0&'("
%$*'-0">&BA01&3("0&<("K<&0$'&/%$*01;
8$*&M*<'&,$$4&/'&"/.(&$'("%&/01&</8;&KX$1;
C/%"0;&<("K<&<*.(&/&1$*.("+/@`KB

7/08&/<<$.-/'"&'("&*<"&$#&C/%"0&-0&/
)"M$%/'-E"&<"0<"&3-'(&B7"/0&X-%,<;B
3(-.(&./2"&$*'&/&8"/%&"/%,-"%;&-0&9RRT>

?("&2$E-"K<&,-0"&B](;&28&X$1;&C/%"0&a
8$*&./0K'&M*<'&/<4&)"$),"&3(8&'("8K%"
3(-'"B&(/<&+""0&*<"1&/<&/&2"2"&$E"%&'("
8"/%<>

O'-,,;&'("&C/%"0&2"2"&3$*,10K'&+".$2"
)$)*,/%&*0'-,&/&1"./1"&,/'"%>&

Y/8&6(/%$/(&M$4"1&/+$*'&3$2"0&0/2"1
C/%"0&-0&(-<&9RS:&.$2"18&<)".-/,;&B5/0&F
!"&7"bB&F0&/0&].'$+"%&9R9R&-0'"%E-"3
3-'(&6"$),"?\;&6(/%$/(&</-1&'(/'&("
1-10K'&40$3&/+$*'&5$$4K<&<)".-/,&/'&'("
'-2";&+*'&'(/'&("K1&+""0&2/4-0@&'("
C/%"0&M$4"&#$%&8"/%<>&

?("&<*+%"11-'&%cdNNNH$*C/%"0&3/<
.%"/'"1&-0&9RSV;&/..$%1-0@&'$&C0$3&H$*%
7"2";&3("%"&-'&(/<&/2/<<"1&2$%"&'(/0
URR;RRR&2"2+"%<>

?("&)/@"K<&1"<.%-)'-$0&</8<&-'K<
B1"1-./'"1&'$&'("&(/'%"1&$#&C/%"0B&/01
-'<&)%$=,"&)-.'*%"&-<&$#&X$<<",-0>

?("&e%+/0&D-.'-$0/%8&1"=0-'-$0&$#
BC/%"0B&=%<'&/))"/%"1&-0&7/%.(&9RS[>

A,<$&-0&9RS[;&2"2"<&/+$*'&C/%"0&+"-0@
/0&"WN3-#"&3($&3/0'"1&'$&'/4"&'("&4-1<
-0&'("&1-E$%."&+"@/0&.-%.*,/'-0@&$0,-0";
C0$3&H$*%&7"2"&</-1>

X$<<",-0&/01&("%&(*<+/01&1-E$%."1&-0
9RRf;&3(-.(&<)/30"1&/&SRN8"/%&.*<'$18
+/'',"&$E"%&'("-%&4-1<>

The name has come to be associated

with white women who call the
police on Black people

?("%"K<&/&3-1"&/%%/8&$#&B3(-'"&.$)N./,,"%
0-.40/2"<B&*<"1&-0&./<"<&,-4"&5$$)"%K<;
O.(-24$3-'P&</-1;&3("%"&/&3(-'"&)"%<$0
./,,<&'("&.$)<&$0&/&!,/.4&)"%<$0&$%&@%$*)
$#&)"$),"&$*'&$#&"0'-',"2"0'>

F0&7/8&9RS[;&/&3$2/0&0/2"1&Y"00-#"%
O.(*,'";&-0&]/4,/01;&5/,-#$%0-/;&"/%0"1
'("&0-.40/2"&B!/%+".*"&!".48B&#$%
./,,-0@&'("&)$,-."&$0&+,/.4&2"0&*<-0@&/
.(/%.$/,&@%-,,&-0&/&)/%4&#$%&'("-%
+/%+".*">

O-2-,/%,8;&'("&/,,-'"%/'-E"&0-.40/2"<
B6"%2-'&6/''8B&/01&B5$%0"%<'$%"
5/%$,-0"B&(/E"&/,<$&+""0&@-E"0&'$&$'("%
3(-'"&3$2"0&3($&(/E"&./,,"1&'("&)$,-."
$0&!,/.4&A2"%-./0<>

!*'&<$2"($3&C/%"0&-<&'("&0/2"&'(/'
<'*.4>

B?("&C/%"0&2"2"&M*<'&+,"3&*)&-0&<*.(&/
3/8&'(/'&-'&M*<'&4-01&$#&'$$4&$E"%&/,,
#$%2<&$#&.%-'-.-<2&'$3/%1<&3(-'"&3$2"0
$0,-0";B&O.(-24$3-'P&</-1>

BF'&M*<'&+"./2"&'("&1"&#/.'$&-0<*,'&'$&,$@&/
3$2/0&3($&-<&"W"%'-0@&'("-%&"0'-',"2"0'
$%&'("-%&)%-E-,"@">B

Use of viral nicknames such as

'Karen' has been criticized

^(-,"&2/08&3$2"0&3($&/%"&2"2"1&/01
./,,"1&C/%"0&/%"&1$-0@&'(-0@<&-0&)*+,-.
)"%."-E"1&'$&+"&%*1";&$'("%<&a&,-4"
5$$)"%&a&/%"&40$30&#$%&"W"%'-0@&)$3"%
180/2-.<&-0&/&1/0@"%$*<&3/8>

Be<*/,,8;&'("&2"2"&-<&/<<$.-/'"1&3-'(
,$3"%N<'/4"<&<-'*/'-$0<;&,-4"&/&)"%<$0&/'
/0&A)),"+""K<&3($&@$'&'("&3%$0@&2"/,&a
0$'&<"%-$*<&J*"<'-$0<&$#&%/.-/,&M*<'-."
/01&<-,"0."&/01&)%-E-,"@";B&O.(-24$3-'P
</-1>

?("%"K<&/&+-@&1-g"%"0."&-0&3(/'
(/))"0"1&3-'(&5$$)"%&-0&5"0'%/,&6/%4&a
3($&"W),-.-',8&'(%"/'"0"1&/&!,/.4&2/0
3-'(&'("&)$,-."&+8&-0E$4-0@&(-<&%/."&a
/01&'("&$'("%&E-%/,&C/%"0<&3($&(/E"
1$0"&'(-0@<&,-4"&'%8&'$&%"<"%E"&)/%4-0@
<)$'<>

D/E-1&D"00-<&Y%>;&/&M$*%0/,-<'&3($&(/<
3%-''"0&/+$*'&'("&)-'#/,,<&$#&/<<-@0-0@
0-.40/2"<&'$&3$2"0&3($&1$&0"#/%-$*<
'(-0@<;&'$,1&F0<-1"%&'(/'&./,,-0@&3$2"0
,-4"&5$$)"%&+8&/&#/,<"&0/2"&@%/0'<&'("2
/&,"E",&$#&/0$082-'8&/01&+",-'',"<&3(/'
'("8KE"&1$0">

BF'&<""2<&,-4"&h5$$)"%i&*<"1&(-<&%/."&/01
3/0'"1&'("&)$,-."&'$&"-'("%&/%%"<'&(-2&$%
+"/'&(-2&*)&$%&4-,,&(-2;B&D"00-<&</-1>
BA01&F&'(-04&'(/'K<&<$2"'(-0@&'(/'&3"
./0K'&#$%@"';&'(/'&/,,&$#&'("<"&3$2"0&/%"
1$-0@>