A video onboard a Southwest Airlines flight shows an angry woman trying to block another passengers from leaving the aircraft, then screaming as she walks by. A flight attendant then rightfully puts her in her place.
“Karen” Has A Meltdown On Southwest Airlines
We’ll call her Karen because, well, the shoe fits (though if you watch the video below, Karen’s anger may be explained by wearing size 3 when she needed a larger size).
Although we don’t have the full context for the video, taken by Karen’s seatmate, it begins with a black passenger trying to get off the aircraft, stating she has to go to the bathroom.
Karen hits her call button and the flight attendant, standing right behind her, asks what the issue is, stating, “Ma’am, are you going to get off the aircraft or keep screaming?” Karen refuses to say. Moments later, the black passenger tries to exit the aircraft and is physically restrained by Karen. As the passenger tries to wiggle around, Karen starts to scream like she is being murdered, feigning injury.
But why was she screaming like that pic.twitter.com/f9TIzF3YeH
— (@unknwns0ul) January 23, 2021
The black passenger slips past and the following conversation ensues:
FA: Ma’am! Ma’am! I’m watching you attack her!
Karen: “You get out of here!”
FA: “Excuse me, ma’am. I work here.”
Karen: [unintelligible]
FA: Get off the aircraft please.
Karen proceeds to depart.
Whatever the context of this video, we know that Karen was angry and the passenger trying to get off was angry. But does it matter? What we see in this video is a woman feigning injury…a liar. We also see a white woman disrespect two women of color. Could it be coincidence? Yeah. But is there a racial angle to this story? Most likely.
CONCLUSION
The high-pitched scream sounds like my eight-month-old daughter. It’s really disgusting for a grown woman and totally unnecessary, no matter what happened before the video started recording.
But kudos to the flight attendant in this video. Mask issue aside, she did a wonderful job in handling Karen and again demonstrates that flight attendants are better than many law enforcement officers at conflict de-escalation.
What do you make of Southwest Airlines Karen?
(H/T: C Boarding Group)
Oh my gosh! Best laugh of the day!
Good lord, what have we become?!
I think this woman was wrong on so many levels but I can’t help but think that there is something else here thats concerning me . Number one the use of the moniker Karen in an age where we Are trying to stamp out racist remarks .If the story was about a black women’s meltdown and it started out Tamika has meltdown on a flight there would be an outcry .Again this woman was clearly wrong but we can’t have a double standard . Then to body shame her about her feet and shoes well that’s a Another matter , the current culture jumps on people who body shame and make fun of others Yet here we are.
You do understand that Karen’s can be black as well? To call someone Karen is not racist. I do find it interesting that you singled out black people. If you want your narrative to work you’ll need to factor in more races.
Great point…..Karen’s come in all shades and ethnic backgrounds. It’s the behaviors & 1 thinking that they are superior to the person that they are addressing
I don’t use the term but I can say that I have never heard it used in reference to anything other than a white woman. I guess you could say redneck applies to all races but the data would overwhelmingly show it to be applied to white people.
Interesting that the author calls out the racial dimension to it so he is applying the typical stereotypes. Rudeness and lack of basic social decency are traits that know no racial boundaries.
Found the Karen over here!
There’s validity to your argument.
Totally agree with your comment!! The woman was clearly acting crazy, but the article was clearly an attempt to stir up unfounded racial bias, and the comments about the woman’s physical appearance/size was totally inappropriate and irrelevant. Finally, the use of the label “Karen” is so immature!! How did we, as a people become so childish? It’s like a behavior I observed from middle schoolers!
I think you hit the nail on the head. Immaturity! And sadly there are so many immature people in the media who only make matters worse. We need to get beyond name calling. I know some very wonderful Karens. I feel bad for them every time I read these attention-seeking headlines. And, yes, it’s intentionally racist when used in this manner. To just call out this one person who seems to have personal issues isn’t sensational enough. So journalists and trouble-makers lump her into a goup they’ve created of “all” White, over-reacting females. Matthew Klint should apologize to all Karens, all women, all White people, and then for practicing sensationalism journalism – also called yellow journalism. But it seems that’s the only style they teach anymore.
Two adults acting like toddlers. What has happened to people patience and people acting like they been there before. I see the second lady screaming because she thinks she might get a payoff to settle the whole thing. I think both should be barred from future flights for awhile till they grow up.
100% double standard… I was a bit shocked that the Author even used the word Karen, then the snub about her size and in the same breath talking about and making an unfounded judgment on the persons proclivity towards racism without any basis to form that opinion. I’m so sick and tired of all the PC crap and ultra sensitivity to the smallest of insults. Then you turn on the double standard and all your PC arguments fall apart.
Stupid article, bad form
Oh please, I wasn’t making fun of her size. I know better than that. I was remarking that her shoes look for too small, which can afflict a person of any size.
Second, you’re “sick and tired of all the PC crap and ultra sensitivity to the smallest of insults” but are offended by the term Karen?
Your reference to LEO’s was in bad form, as was your attempt at making this a race issue. Based on your own “facts” stated in the article, there was no mention of race by either woman. You just fat shamed and took a jab at LEO’s bc you lack any journalistic skills.
Mathew. Don’t let all these whining babies get to you. They’re just a bunch of KARENS.
Agreed. The term Karen is offensive to me as a white woman. Needs to stop.
Why take I dig at law enforcement such bs
I don’t see what is newsworthy about this anymore. Something like this happens every day. I guess since we had to mention the passenger was black makes it hot news.
The term Karen is race based but not racist. There is no damage black people can inflict on a white woman by calling her a Karen. Stop telling us to refrain from pointing out racism as if that is going to make racism stop happening. White people always think that if you don’t talk about it then it will magically stop. When everyone is equal then articles won’t have to point out racism or call people Karen’s. Don’t label a person a bully that causes division just let them keep punching you in the face and taking your lunch money….
I know you want to believe that if you do something it’s OK but if someone else does it it’s not. That mentality is a common, human fault! You say “There is no damage black people can inflict on a white woman by calling her a Karen.” False in every way! The very purpose of name calling is to hurt someone and label them with shame. It can hurt the same regardless of color. Someone who is belittled to the point of suicide has received just as much “damage” whether they are Black or White or other. The false notion that Whites have “power” and Blacks don’t leads to the false conclusion that Blacks can’t be racists. Don’t tell me my Black coach didn’t have power, or Muhammad Ali, or Ilhan Omar, or Obama didn’t have power. So that’s false. But way beyond that, don’t tell me words and criticism don’t hurt one skin color as much as another. The suicide rate among so-called toxic, White males is double that of Blacks. Maybe because they’re told they aren’t important and are toxic. Don’t insult every woman named Karen by using her name as a slander. And don’t lie to yourself to justify your racism.
What did I just watch LOL. But on another note, why does the FA lower her mask???? I don’t understand people who think they have to pull their mask down to talk. That defeats the whole purpose of the mask!!!
Totally agree that it defeats the purpose. Still, I don’t know about you, but I often have trouble hearing people when they are speaking through a mask.
What purpose did the last line of the article serve. It was nothing but a cheap shot at law enforcement. And was it necessary to body shame? I thought we were all trying to get away from that. Bush league article.
Why can’t you take it as praise for her rather than scorn for law enforcement? That was the intention.
You are full of crap. It was a shot at law enforcement and you know it. Just from reading this article, without knowing another thing about you, I can tell you are an ultra liberal writer who doesn’t like the police.
Oh sure James. You know me very well.
Dude you are so obvious. So yes I do
I think she was giving her the full ‘mom look’, with the mask down.
No masks down. She can repeat herself till she’s understood.
Exactly….my white face sees ur white face lying & literally grabbing and assaulting the woman that’s trying to pass
This leaves me concerned. Isn’t the real question what was this all about? A 3 second clip doesn’t tell me the whole story. Was there some altercations during the flight ? Did Karen haven a mental disorder or stress disorder? Do we just assume it was a racist act? Are we done being critical thinkers, our only concern is keep your mask on and stay socially distant.
I’m not sure but it appeared that the FA was letting the “future claimant/screamer” know that I see ur BS (white woman attacked by a black woman narrative). She pulled down her mask to show the claimant that her white face was watching her white face LITERALLY grabbing the lady that was passing for no reason & to get it together!
That was her “I had enough” move… lol she prolly wanted to unmuffled her voice to take control.
Is this the type of content we’re going to have to endure now in the absence of trip and product reviews?
I saw your comment on OMAAT as well. Good news, if you like trip reports, is that there will be flight reviews coming up from my recent trip to Germany. But this stuff too. I’m going to keep calling it out until it stops. I’m sick of it too, but shaming seems to be a helpful tool (evidence: a very calm inauguration in DC). Yeah, troops too.
I’m not saying this lady should go to jail, but she assaulted the other lady on video and whatever the context for her anger, there is no justification for blocking passengers from leaving the aircraft or being so rude to a FA.
You’re like the Jerry Springer of airline blogs!
What an insult! Live and Let’s Fly is the Wall Street Journal of airline blogs.
You’re a garbage reporter
I think that title (or NY Post) goes to VFTW.
Not even Gary would post this drivel on his blog.
Oh, I think he would. 😉
It’s the Airline Blog of Record!
Perhaps we should host a Reader’s Choice Awards.
Hints of Springer but generally he’s a bit more upmarket, more like a Sally Jessy Raphael. But I think we can indulge reporting a few of these tacky episodes: after all, they seem to be one of the new realities of air travel.
I experienced a similar incident when I flew Lufthansa about 10 years ago from Frankfurt to IAD. An old German frau behind me didn’t like me reclining my seat and started kicking wildly and screaming about being in pain. I looked and she had PLENTY of leg room. I pushed my seat forward and she stopped. It was a similar screaming and kicking fit to what I see in the video. (Logic 101: If my reclined seat had pinched her so much, how did she find the space to kick?)
There was largely no other class distinction between us except perhaps she knew I was American and riding on a German airline.
Around the same time, I recall taking a flight and nearly getting stuck with the dreaded seat by the lavatory. Yuck! I quickly checked in online and corrected it and was about 10 seats down. I looked back and I saw a poor, handsome German guy sitting in the dread chair next to yet another old German frau who complained endlessly and pushed the call button. I’m not making this stuff up!
(in English, surprisingly, thick German accent to a GERMAN cabin steward.)
“EXCUSE ME! My seat has this electronics box underneath the foot rest! I’m uncomfortable!”
“EXCUSE ME! The air is cold back here!”
All of this was stuff the supremely patient German cabin steward had no power over and he answered her in a pleasant voice he regretted he couldn’t do anything. I later called him over, remarked (VERY QUIETLY) on his patience and begged for meat (since all the meat dishes had run out.) He smiled and grabbed a meal from Business Class for me.
I have to admit that once I did something similar.
I put my luggage on the conveyor belt to be security screened then proceeded to walk through the metal detector. Somehow they wanted to pat me down. I kept an eye on my luggage from afar when I saw a passenger touch it.
Several options were in my mind.
1. Watch the bag be stolen, file a report, and never see the bag again.
2. Hope the bag is just touched a little by the other, already screened passenger and not stolen.
3. Plead with the TSA to hurry up to screen me, which they would never comply.
4. Scream. This is what I did. Pointing at the end of the luggage x-ray area, I yelled “STOP THIEF! STOP, THIEF! STOPPPPPPP, THIEEEEEEEF!”
The passenger looked at me and quickly walked away without taking my bag. The TSA supervisor came over and I explained that, while waiting to be patted down, a passenger was touching my bag as if he might be thinking of stealing it. I added that it was not taken after I yelled. The TSA supervisor said “ok, but I’ll review the video anyway”.
Conclusion. Do not scream but if you have to, scream very loudly. The same if kidnapped. I won’t just push the kidnapper away but try to kill him or disable him so that he cannot run after me. My feeling is if someone wants you to get into the trunk or get into a car at gunpoint, he plans to kill you.
Wow….did u ever hear back from the employee that looked at the video tape? Did the person accidentally touch ur bag? Did they think it was theirs, touched it, realized it wasn’t then stopped? Were they grabbing it, moving away from where it was? Was it 1 person or a group of people “moving, watching and touching ur bag” together to steal ur bag?
OK, definitely a Karen and a nut-case. I’m not sure the comment about her size had any relevance other than to show you might be right, but judge-y!
So what is it,,,public schools, bad parenting, fast food, chain restaurants, cheap booze, reality TV, 4 years of lies from leaders,,,,,People are awful……so glad I retired from the Airline Industry,,,
All of the above…..Congrats on ur retirement! Enjoy!!
Trumptards are still amongst us. And always will be for the foreseeable future.
Ffs, he’s gone, but you just can’t let him go. Literally nothing at all to do with politics. Whatever are you going to do with your life now?
Too much useless energy invested here, it was so much more pleasant traveling in the 60’s and 70’s. The smokers had their place in the back of the plane and they were quite content, no fights no racial bias just people going about their business ( of drinking and smoking for the most part).
As far as the idiots on planes I guess some people just can’t be happy.
Jesus man, I don’t like the guy, but there is a point that you simply must stop allowing him to live in the empty space between your ears, rent free. People who never stop yapping like Chiuauas eventually get so annoying they get kicked. Oh and if you thought what went on under trump was bad, watch what ten years of camel toe does to this country ! I already have the popcorn and the aR 15 ready, yup big black man ugly people killer. Wonder why all the lifts are showing up in the local gun shop. Perhaps some of you are clued in n what’s coming. Anyway, you can have a nice sniff of 12 year old girls hair, or 50 year old camel toe. Enjoy ,
Literally praying for u……u sound like ur in a lot of pain. Wow, what have big black people done to u, personally that u want to blast them away and enjoy it? People, please respond with factual information not what U THINK THAT big black people do.
you sound like a cry baby b1tc# right wing nut job
Straight to racism with zero evidence. For all you know she could have been mentally ill. You literally made up a scenario that exists nowhere in that video. Way to stoke the fire. Pathetic.
Racism is a mental illness too.
0 evidence or another person that “doesn’t see color” and that the FA had watched the woman, saw EXACTLY what she was doing and called her on it?
A fat and ugly Karen. This was predictable. Wasn’t it?
Why didn’t the lady who had to pee use the toilet that is in the rear of every plane. Why did she have to get off the plane?
After listening to Karen Shrieks more than a few times, now I have to pee. This video makes a strong case for adults to wear Depend Diapers.
The woman is an idiot and the author has no problems using the racist term, “Karen.” If an article was written about an equally stupid Black woman, the author would have to use the term, “N***** b****”, which is the same as using “Karen” to describe a White woman acting stupid. But PC does not apply to Whites, especially if they are baby boomers or older. The PC Nazis will continue to use the racist misogynistic term, “Karen,” as it goes after White women. I do not disagree that this woman is a complete idiot, but I do get tired of the PC Nazis who get up in arms about any other racist term, but not against Whites. I guess the author feels that he is like a Black who uses “N*****.”
I’m not PC. I’ll call black people thugs if they act like thugs. But this is a Karen. Sorry. Better than using the B-word…
Love it
What concerns me with this story, is the label “Karen.” It is extremely hurtful to all Karen’s who do not behave in this manor. It’s judgemental, unfair, and is an unimportant video to showcase someone’s behavior, especially when we have no idea what took place to cause such a reaction with that that short snippet. What doesn’t amaze me is the rush to judgement and uneducated comments that only perpetrates hate. Have we as a civilized society learned anything from 2020? How are we ever going to evolve to be a empathetic, sympathetic and caring, to others? Here’s a thought, practice kindness, today and every day. It’s just that simple!
Ok Matt, with that comment you set me straight on your thoughts. Thank you
Ffs, does race have to enter this stupidity too ?
The way she dismisses the Southwest FA?
My name is Karen. Ive been Karen for 67 years. I have never felt so ashamed of being Karen before, but society has chosen my name as an insult. I cry when I see the misuse of my name. People who hold a public platform, such as this adult reporter, should be fired and shamed. I expect this kind of thing coming from immature kids but not adults.
Fair enough, Karen. Thanks for your comment.
I find the term ‘Karen’ racist in any context .
That’s not true….Karen’s come in all shades and ethnic backgrounds. It’s the behavior and that the person believes that they are superior to the person that they are speaking with or to
Why “Karens”? Why not Judys, or Beths, or Susans, or Hillarys, or Kamalas, or Oprahs, or Katies etc., ad nauseum?
You could say the same of the n-word. I personally have never seen anyone other than a white female called a Karen. It’s a derogatory term whether you think so or not. It’s very much like when people are told statues and flags are racist.
Couldn’t agree more.
Karen is a lovely name; this current usage will run its course and people with forget the negative connotations. It has happened before: eg, Cassandra.
Aaaand that’s why you forbid cow as emotional support animal in the cabin…..
That old crazy [redacted by admin] broad should never be let on a commercial aircraft again .She obviously has a severe mental problem and belongs in a state mental hospital in the crazy old [redacted by admin] who pisses in her depends ward.
This is how I see it; the African American lady needs to get off fast to use the restroom. It seems she wanted other passengers to let her through to go to the restroom. Karen did not want her to cut through the line and so that incident took place. I would not put this event in the context of racism just bec the other two ladies are black
Why would she remain seated, though? And why was she so rude to the FA?
I guess I need to get out more. I’ve never heard the term “Karen” used in that context.
Sorry, but what did the race of the woman wanting to get off and pee have to do with the article? When I went to college, we were told to leave race out of an article unless it played an important role in the article. Did it?
No . You are RACE BAITING.
Karen sounds mentally off- and she should be examined by a DR . Seriously.
Matthew you’re disgusting. Making fun of a fat person. Making fun of a mentally ill person. Calling someone a liar. Turning a random 10 second video into a racially motivated story. This is what your chosen occupation is?
I suggest you work with your 8 year old if she sounds like this woman.
Something is seriously wrong with the woman to put her arm across the aisle as she just sits there.
I agree, the FA was giving her the “that s**t won’t fly on my flights” look!
The last line of your article I couldn’t shake “she did a wonderful job in handling Karen and again demonstrates that flight attendants are better than many law enforcement officers at conflict de-escalation.”
It’s ignorant messages like that that put average citizens against our law enforcement and I find what you said highly offensive. I am not a police officer however, I know and respect them. Which is my point, respect works both ways. Until you walk in a law enforcements shoes on a daily basis, you have no right to make that comparison. We all know how the media blows any situation out of proportion. I know there are bad cops, There are also bad Politicians, bad athletes etc. the list goes on. But, when you lump one group and give a generalized statement implying that “many” are the cause…..YOU are contributing to the breakdown of Unity. You should use your words for good, not evil!!!!!
I respect cops too. Believe me. Just because I said this flight attendant was great does not mean cops are bad…
Shame on the writer of this story, needing to do the KAREN thing. Then the naming of skin color is nothing but an instigation move. Sounds like a lot of hype over two people having it out, verbally. We all are aware that racism has more than one face. A waste of reading time on a an article lacking meaning and importance.
People like this woman, whatever the context, deserve to be called out.
Then, maybe you should have just pointed out how the flight attendant handled a potentially volatile situation amazingly well and not mention law enforcement. The comparison was unnecessary and again, attempting to discredit our law enforcement. You have the power to unite our great country, but you chose not to in your final sentence. All I’m saying is that there is so much hate going on right now. You have the power to make a difference….big or small by uniting and not dividing. Now do the right thing!!
Matthew,
Thank you for telling the truth and the story. White people have been torturing Black people for centuries. So if they get mad at you because they can’t handle the truth. America is built on racism,
100% double standard… I was a bit shocked that the Author even used the word Karen, then the snub about her size and in the same breath talking about and making a judgment the persons proclivity towards racism without any basis to form that opinion. I’m so sick and tired of all the PC crap and ultra sensitivity to the smallest of insults. Then you turn on the double standard and all your PC arguments fall apart.
Stupid article, bad form
100% double standard… I was a bit shocked that the Author even used the word Karen, then the snub about her size and in the same breath talking about and making a judgment the persons proclivity towards racism without any basis to form that opinion. I’m so sick and tired of all the PC crap and ultra sensitivity to the smallest of insults. Then you turn on the double standard and all your PC arguments fall apart.
Stupid article, bad form and double standard
The seated woman is completely wrong to touch another person. Period.
But could this have happened if other people hadn’t been trying to shove their way out?
There is a proper way to disembark. The seated woman has all her belongings gathered & a foot in the aisle, why is anyone trying to push around her?
I have zero sympathy for Miss “I have to pee”. What a classless thing to shout.
She is a grown woman who had a lavatory available to her just a short time ago.
On Southwest you choose your seat, perhaps next time she should choose a seat up front.
I also echo other commentary regarding the unnecessary fat shaming & racial angle.
I wish they had called security to deal with the screaming lunatic. Perhaps she has some mental issues.
I’m not offended by anything anyone says…. it’s the current culture that is and as a public figure I you clearly used a double standard. That is what I am pointing out… You are either in with the PC crowd or you ignore it. But at the same time you made assumptions about her racist behavior simply because one participant was “of color”….. I couldn’t care less what names people use because I take them in context to the situation. If I saw true racist behavior I would call it out, but I would not go out of my way to make an issue of it particularly if I did not witness the interaction first hand. Bad form Matt
It’s extremely disturbing that the Airline apparently did not have the woman (whatever her name is) arrested for attempted assault or at least disorderly conduct. Given some of the irrational passenger behavior we’ve seen lately, this flight attendant was risking her safety to deal with the woman. The woman’s conduct was unacceptable. The airline should have taken immediate steps and this woman should also be on a No Fly list. There is NO excuse (no shrinks needed here) for this behavior and good passengers need to demand the airlines provide better safety back-up for their Flight and Cabin crews and Ground Staff which will directly affect passenger safety. And Matthew.. your comments about law enforcement were a cheap shot. You have NO IDEA how many law enforcement officers successfully de-escalate conflicts every day. Your comments repeat on-going media attempts to degrade the 98% honest, hardworking men and women of law enforcement who lay their lives on the line daily due to the actions of a few. If you really believe that was a good way to praise the FA, you need to think again!!
Bad choice.
This woman seems to have some sort of psychological issue.
Unfortunately, OMAAT has given license to glorified travel Bloggers to think that a) they are ‘journalists’, and; b) can write well.
This ‘article’ is pure click-bait containing loaded words and reveals a bias and bigotry that I don’t need to see in a travel article. If Matthew wants to write pure “Opinion” pieces, he needs to label them as such so his potential readers have fair warning what they will be reading is not any sort of unbiased article.