The “Central Park Karen” story is still being widely discussed online, in the news and basically everywhere. It feels like it’s one of those “perfect victim” stories. A Harvard-educated African-American man goes to the park because he’s an avid bird-watcher. He sees a white woman breaking the rules by refusing to leash her dog. He asks her several times to leash her dog. Woman throws a tantrum, threatens man, calls the police on the man and claims that he threatened her. While she’s on the phone with 9-1-1, she also nearly kills her dog by strangling it. She was the one who approached the man and he told her to back off, all while he recorded her on his phone.
The woman is Amy Cooper and the man is Christian Cooper (no relation). Amy Cooper’s racist Karendry has gotten her dog taken away and she was first suspended and then fired from her job. The suspension happened on Memorial Day – just 24 hours later, Franklin Templeton fired Amy Cooper. At this time, we still don’t know if she’ll have to face bigger repercussions beyond that. Like, she needs to be arrested for false reporting and attempted manslaughter or something. For wasting the cops’ time and resources with her unhinged Karendry.
As the story continued to expand, people began doing more research on both Christian and Amy. Christian really is an avid bird watcher, and he was even part of a documentary short about bird-watchers in New York (the video is cued up Christian’s appearance):
I love this gentle bird nerd and he must be protected from the unhinged Karens at all costs. Speaking of, Christian Cooper is such a bird nerd that he’s a board member of the Audubon Society, and now the Audubon Society is releasing woke AF statements about racism and bird-lovers:
“Black Americans often face terrible daily dangers in outdoor spaces, where they are subjected to unwarranted suspicion, confrontation, and violence,” said Audubon SVP for State Programs Rebeccah Sanders, who is white. “The outdoors – and the joy of birds – should be safe and welcoming for all people. That’s the reality Audubon and our partners are working hard to achieve. We unequivocally condemn racist sentiments, behavior, and systems that undermine the humanity, rights, and freedom of Black people. We are grateful Christian Cooper is safe. He takes great delight in sharing New York City’s birds with others and serves as a board member of the New York City Audubon Society, where he promotes conservation of New York City’s outdoor spaces and inclusion of all people.”
I both love and hate this. I love that the Bird Watching Community has Christian Cooper’s back and that bird nerds are all about racial equality. But I also hate that it had to f–king come to this all because some racist a–hole couldn’t deal with being told to leash her f–king dog.
Following our internal review of the incident in Central Park yesterday, we have made the decision to terminate the employee involved, effective immediately. We do not tolerate racism of any kind at Franklin Templeton.
— Franklin Templeton (@FTI_US) May 26, 2020
Screencaps courtesy of Topic video.
it brings me great joy that she lost her job and her dog. but she should at the very very least be charged with making a false 911 call. I’d love if she was charged with attempted murder, but my guess is the Justice department won’t see it that way.
I don’t find joy in racism, but I do find it ironic that the potential legal, financial, and professional repercussions Christian could have faced if arrested are happening to her.
Except for one glaring thing, she’s not likely to be killed by the cops she summoned in a performative panic.
And Mr. Cooper is incredibly gracious, questioning such harsh punishments for her.
uh, I don’t find joy in racism either. I find joy in racists having consequences for being assholes. there’s a difference?
Absolutely what Alissa said. Also, at least in my case, it isn’t exactly joy. It’s more it’s a relief to know that in this increasingly unequal world justice can happen, and yes just a touch of schadenfreude.
I enjoy someone’s KARMA coming for her, because that’s how karma is. Maybe she’ll learn from this.
But the nicest part of this is that we get to see a REAL black man, who’s not the macho, profane-about-women image the media often give us. I’m so sick of rappers calling us “bitches” and even females letting them.
This is an educated man who doesn’t fit the stereotype of what a “black man” is — there are plenty of them around who don’t fit it, but we get swamped w/crass, ugly images. Or sex-obsessed images that are “complimentary” but deny individuality and intellect.
I’ve know black women who also don’t “fit the image” and they have just as much right to be intellectual, shy, bad dancers, whatever.
I think she could be charged with false reporting as well. I can’t stop thinking about how she repeated ” African American male”.
Charging her with attempted murder would be a tacit admission that police kill people of color without cause. While that is all too often the reality, no police department or DA would admit that because it would open a flood of lawsuits.
Not joy but cold comfort.
Also, I bet the Trumpers and other haters are fuming in their dumped-pants/panties at this news story.
I love the Audubon Society statement. The world has good people in it too.
I do, too. Man… I kind of want to cry. I think it’s tears of relief that this disgusting act of racism wasn’t tolerated and It had consequences.
Yep! This did restore a little faith in humanity for me.
I’ve been a Birds Canada volunteer for many years, and reading the Audobon Society statement yesterday made me fist pump the air.
The poor dog. I hope it doesn’t get put down. Although I guess the publicity will attract a few enquiries from people willing to adopt it.
It went back to the rescue group she got it from, not a shelter, so unless she injured the dog beyond saving, which I haven’t heard, the dog should get re-adopted into a more loving, hopefully better-screened home.
it went back to the rescue that had it before. he will be fine!
Ugh, this whole disgusting incident should never have happened.
First and foremost my concern is with Christian Cooper and I’m relieved that he is still alive and with us today. I really appreciate his thoughtful comments and grace post-incident. It’s a lesson for me in how to be graceful in response to outrage and disrespect.
I’m also feeling for the pup in this – it must have been terribly stressful and confusing for him/her, especially since it’s already a rescue pup.
One minute you are at the park having a wonderful time, next minute your owner is shouting hysterically and dragging you around by the collar, and then next minute you are away from your owner in a new place and with new people. I don’t know anything else about this woman or what sort of owner she was to this pup but I have no doubt this has been confusing and stressful for the poor little soul.
Just shaking my head that this situation even occurred in the first place.
I am far more relieved that Christian Cooper didn’t get “put down” by the police.
The dog was temporarily returned to the rescue while the situation gets sorted out. I’m sure she will get him back.
I wouldn’t be so sure she gets the dog back. Rescues for purebred dogs are very selective about who gets a dog. They pulled the dog immediately because of the way she was handling him/her, not because of her racist unhinged vindictive behavior. That’s why they didn’t wait for her shitty explanation. There are people on waiting lists for these dogs, he/she will be fine.
Really, she will probably get him back?
She has long been affiliated with the rescue and has fostered many dogs and is likely a big donor. She’s getting the dog back.
Not sure she can afford to be a big donor anymore.
Looking at her job title, it’s very likely she’s an actuary, which is a very highly sought after skill set. She’s likely to also get her job back quietly as well, after a suitable gardening leave.
The rescue states on their FB page it’s a permanent surrender. She’s not getting the pup back, and I suspect the waiting list of potential adoptees is massive at this point.
In other news reports they show a couple insta photos of her with her dog several times at the vet for broken paw and other maladies. Behaviorists describe her treatment of the dog and choking it as behavior she’s done before even suggesting munchausen by proxy. I hope she can never adopt a dog again it’s obvious she doesn’t for a shit about it and just wants insta sympathy for a hurt pup.
He probably wasn’t taken away from her because of the video alone. She has a history of reporting strange accidents the dog survived on social media. She’s only had him for two years and there are at least four weird things that she and/or the rescue posted on social media (he drowned in a pond and she needed to rescue him, he choked and needed CPR on the street, etc). They’re probably all entirely fabricated, and she put Henry through medical treatments each time. Most rescues make owners sign a contract agreeing to A) never let the dog off leash in an I fenced area or B) never to let the dog off leash in areas where that is not allowed anyway. Also…it’s not like she could walk around with Henry in public so she was probably very willing to give him up. How could she walk him without getting yelled at and having poo thrown at her? At least alone, she can hide behind a mask for now.
I think what we really need to focus on is that this woman used the man’s skin color to her advantage in a very racist way. A white woman calling for help due to a black man.
Secondly, the theatrics involved were chilling. She escalated her terror when the man was not only not being aggressive but was very passive in tone. And the combination it was too much to take. And then seeing her drag her dog and the animal helped out of pain. This woman has ISSUES.
I can see why she was fired.
And kudos to Mr. Cooper for keeping his calm demeanor while this was all transpiring.
It’s troubling that it takes a nearly perfect human to pull back the curtain. Meanwhile, in the same news cycle a more typically flawed human was murdered by cops in front of witnesses filming and begging them to stop.
God that was awful to watch. You could see the terror in his eyes, he knew he was going to die. I keep thinking about his eyes in that video, he was so scared, and what about the mother who threw her mute autistic 9yo into not one but two canals before she succeeded in drowning him? The terror that child must have felt when she stopped at the second canal and started looking around for witnesses? That’s what I think about in the middle of the night now. Abuse stories keep me awake.
I agree. Very disturbing how quickly and easily she went there
The benefit of the doubt favors the fear of white women in these situations. Her claim that she was afraid would have been defended and his behavior questioned had he not filmed the entire encounter thus getting the “receipts” that she had nothing to be afraid of.
What we need to focus on is how white people have weaponized law enforcement against black people.
@mac, the change in her voice when she was speaking to the 911 dispatcher is insidiously supportive of your statement. She knew she had to portray fear in order to evoke the response she wanted from law enforcement. Heinous, evil woman.
“This woman has ISSUES.”
Let’s be clear. That issue is racism. I’m so over people trying to excuse white people’s racism by implying they must have MH issues. That same statement wouldn’t be made about a POC. They would be called a “thug” or worse. So call Amy Cooper what she is – a racist THUG.
@Missmarierose, please do not misconstrue my use of “issues”. My comment clearly shows that she is a racist. And “issues” does not automatically mean MH issues. Her “issue” is race.
she’s an animal abuser, too.
Serious question- “should racism be labeled a mental disorder, and listed on the DMMD- this opening the door to treatment? This would mean nazis etc”.
Racism isn’t a disability because it’s entirely by choice. Yes it’s ingrained into some to the point they don’t see it in themselves, but you can learn not to be racist. You can’t unlearn bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Or even generalized anxiety. Karen may well have one of those disorders but many people do without racist outbursts.
I’m so proud of Franklin Templeton, we have slowly purchased mutual funds through them for years for our girls college funds, our kids are almost through college so we are almost done with that, but, I’m just really proud of the fact that they quickly did the right thing in this situation.
I am really cynical and want to know how many clients threatened to leave, and whether FT saw a dip in the value of their mutual funds. Unethical, abhorrent behavior is not uncommon in finance.
That could definitely be a possibility, but hey, at least the masses have spoken!
I contacted Franklin Templeton as soon as I heard she worked there and asked them to fire her. Hopefully they were flooded with similar complaints and that they couldn’t ignore their clients.
It took them 24 hrs to can her so I’d think they acted pretty quickly. I heard they removed their contact information on the website because they were getting overwhelmed with negative emails about this lady.
This is so very sad, she got what she deserved and more.
Also…is he single??? Lol
right??? He can teach me about bird habitats ANYTIME
Absolutely!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought that.
I’m glad I’m not the only shallow person here. Gentle bird nerd is very, very attractive. And I’ll throw in smart.
Whew, I was afraid I was terrible for kinda wanting to be approached by him…
Right! My first thought was “bird nerd is hot!”
As a fellow birder, my first thought was what model his binoculars are. *sheepish* Looks like it might be from the Vortex Viper series- they cost over $1,000.
Right?! How many Internet proposals has this wonderful guy already gotten? 😀😄
I don’t understand her reaction, mine would’ve been markedly different. Hello handsome man! Teach me about birds hell yes!
Shallow here too I guess, I couldn’t stop looking at his arms…;)
I thought the same thing – “Is he single?” popped into my head and thought – oh, not the issue here! But still, he certainly ticks all the boxes.
Fun Fact Bird Nerd is a whole 57 years old and looking like a buff well worked out SNACK.
Check his Harvard graduation date…..
He’s 57?! Whoa!
He is openly gay.I’ve seen a lot of guys on gay sites expressing interest in him ☺.
I can still appreciate him from afar. 🙂
it’s always the beautiful ones…
love all these comments, came to say the same lol!
Christian Cooper is also magnanimous enough to say that he’s sad she’s getting death threats. And that firing her doesn’t really solve the underlying issues. This guy could’ve been killed by her, but he’s still the bigger man and seems good and wise. True class.
Seriously. We don’t deserve such grace.
I hate the fact that in many ways, he HAS to be graceful. Also, how many times has he confronted this situation to 1) carry dog treats; 2) know that dog’s owners will not be happy to be shown that they aren’t good owners; 3) pull out his phone to record the inevitable confrontation.
I can’t imagine he wants any of this attention.
Her actions were so dangerous. He could have been killed, and other black men in the area could have been killed too! How many times has harm come to black men because they “match the description of a suspect”?
The injustice is so crushing. It’s hard not to get depressed about the state of things.
I’m so sorry can I just be vain for a little bit this man is hot as f~ck damn!
The racism in America is really scary something urgently has to be done. I keep thinking about the time when there were no phones to accurately record and see what happens I can only imagine the number of innocent black American men that have been accused, prisoned and even executed unjustly based on false accusations! Damn it’s Scary and sad
So true, Greatgift. Black men and women, and sadly, young boys and girls too. I’ve seen viral videos of the harshest treatments coming from cops. They come on the scene set to riot tactics, they don’t even bother listening to us. It’s all reactive. If there is a pause in the conversation, then we’re resisting, violence ensues. It is very scary, and heartbreaking.
It obviously happened in America, but it seems she’s Canadian so America can’t take full credit for how awful this one is.
Bucky. Can’t tell you how disappointed I am to hear she’s Canadian. Disappointed but not surprised. I’m a Métis (European/Indian) woman living in western Canada. Racism is alive and well here.
@Tigerlily
“Indian”
Really?
“Gentle bird nerd” 😂
I’m relieved this was caught on camera, but so upset that so so many similar incidents won’t be.
He is not only a sweet, nerdy man, but hot AF!
I agree: we must protect him at all costs!
Christian Cooper is so handsome!!
He’s very handsome and seems like a really nice guy based on the statement he put out.
I have a lot of feelings on this.
First absolute disgust by her. Especially since he didn’t go near her. She was the aggressor completely. I am glad she was fired.
Additionally, I’m so, so, so relieved that this man wasn’t murdered due to her actions.
I’m also angry and disgusted that I feel it is working out this way because he is such a nice guy. If he were not this nice, well-educated, calm man, the fact that she was completely in the wrong wouldn’t be enough. The press and court of public opinion would be dragging up something completely unrelated from his past to “blame” him.
This exactly. He needed to be the perfect victim to get this level of outrage at his mistreatment . A Harvard educated bird nerd who just happens to be attractive.
This is so true.
I m so happy he is safe ! That whole thing gave me chills. She weaponized her race and gender against an innocent man.
On a shallow note, Christian is so freaking handsome! Bird nerd rules!
Christian Cooper also used to work for Marvel (he helped introduce some LGBT characters in the Star Trek comics).
As for Central Park Karen, she is the epitome of a NYC Karen – white, middle management, with a huge sense of entitlement who pretends she is totally woke but whose racism comes pouring out the minute someone calls them out on their sense of entitlement. Allison Roman is cut from the same cloth.
Yoshi Mishima!
He was the first out gay male character in Star Trek.
I just can not understand WTH this woman thought she was doing. Overreacting and going apesh*t, calling the cops, etc.
I live in a small town in Minnesota, but situations like this that are happening to black people STILL is just unreal. Guy is outside in a public area, asks female to leash her dog, which I’m sure is the law and only polite to do, she goes off and pretty much turns his day inside out. Plus, very much could have caused him serious injury when the cops got there. Because as the Mpls Police just proved AGAIN, cops have a history of brutality when involved with black people.
These entitled idiots who think they own any area they are in..STFU.
Whatever happened to mind your own business?
I can live, be in public places, run errands, etc. for days at a time without interacting with others.
Wave, smile, keep moving.
Also, for folks who see the tape of the Mpls cops killing a black man by kneeling on his throat for minutes while he pleads for help….Sickening, IMO. I do not understand how the other cops do not pull back? What kind of disconnect is that? It is happening right before your eyes!!
And yes, protesting in the streets here in MN this AM. Rightly so.
As I understand it when a bystander asked them to ease up the cop standing there just shrugged it off. And security cameras do not show him resisting. It’s sick. When did being accused(not convicted)of using a forged instrument warrant the death penalty?
What happened to George Floyd saddens and disgusts me.
I opened IG this morning and saw what happened to George Floyd. I regret watching the video (I thought it was a news report, not the actual incident at first) because I almost threw up. It is one of the most terrifying things I’ve ever seen. The way it happened, the utter disregard for his life and safety and the fact that he himself AND a group of people pleaded with the officers for minutes. So on the other hand, I think people SHOULD see it. Because that’s what could’ve happened to Christian Cooper and thank f*ck it didn’t.
On a lighter note, these bird watchers are a delight. I love listening to people talk about their passion.
Christian Cooper, I think I love you. Internet, please leave this man alone to bird in peace.
I really hope everyone understands that if there has been John instead of Amy, he still had his work and doxxers were being sued.
Stop.
Glad for this initial outcome. I wonder if she will really learn her lesson. I hope she will have to go to some sort of class in order to get her privileges back with that rescue. Well-to-do donors should not have special privileges Especially racist ones.
What a class act Mr. Cooper is. Hes certainly found a teaching moment and for that I’m grateful. Not just with racism but with animal cruelty.
On another note, does anybody else here find Christian Cooper hot?? He is Fine. I love professorial types. On top of that, as a member of the Audubon Society and a daily bird watcher he get many extra points from me ( and probably others).
“BUT I think noting his wonderfulness is important. Because if a black man can attend Harvard, work for Marvel, dress well, bird watch for fun & STILL be assumed to be a criminal…how can ANY black man EVER feel like he’ll be given the benefit of the doubt?”
This.
Exactly. The burden of being perfect just to exist is more than most of us could handle.
Don’t know if I’d go as far as manslaughter on it (my feeling is that’ll be turned around in court on victims in the long run someway, somehow), but I definitely think these people should be charged with abuse of police resources.
Now, the Minnesota policemen who got fired recently for that video circulating of them literally choking a black man to death while bystanders begged them to stop? Those f*cking sociopaths should be in jail for murder. Most cold-blooded shit I’ve seen in a long.
Karendry 😂 I’m so happy that white tears didn’t win this time
It is great to see how quickly the Audubon Society and Franklin Templeton spoke out and acted against this horrible situation. While I would normally feel bad for anyone losing their jobs, Ms. Cooper acted with a knowing disregard for Mr. Cooper’s safety and deserves to lose her job. The optimist in me would hope she and other “Karens” have learned a lesson, but sadly Ms. Cooper and her ilk will most likely continue to see themselves as the victim. Mr. Cooper is more gracious than I would have been and reminds me that we have to look out for each other now more than ever.
@paddingtonjr, sadly I think you are correct. I would be surprised if she sees herself as anything other than a victim in all this.
There have been some comments in NY Times that this bitch took her dog to the Ramble all the time and let him run loose. And that people called her out for it often. The Ramble is really protected, the Central Park Conservancy is kinda nuts about keeping it as close to “wild” as possible (and good on them). She knew what she was doing, she just thought it was within her precious entitlement.
As disgusting as this was, I’m kinda glad to have met Mr. Cooper.
apparently her identity was outed by two young women who used to dog walk for her and recognized the dog. they both said she was a nut.
I saw one of those comments, that people have seen Amy Cooper treating the Ramble like her own personal dog park.
Another interesting comment was from a twenty something woman who worked for four years as a gardener in the Ramble. “I know the exact spot this was filmed…I have dealt with countless entitled dog walkers who have called me names after I’ve politely asked them to leash their dogs (while in my uniform). This part of the Ramble at this time of day is NOT a scary place…This woman was out of line. Period. I sincerely appreciate this man for asking her to leash her dog since employees out in the field can only do so much.”
Nevermind you should leash your dog in all of Central Park anyway, pre-pandemic it’s always congested with people
She should have been fired. They did the right thing. She should also be charged but the cops won’t do the right thing because she’s white
Keep in mind Amy’s blatant racism on this video. Then think about her old job. She was A portfolio manager at Franklin Templeton. Her job was deciding on where to invest money. Do you think her racism didn’t trickle into her job? That businesses run by PoC are ignored and not given opportunities to grow. This is the insidious nature of racism. You see it on full display here. Imagine how it impacted her at her job.
I’m happy that Christian Cooper and the dog are safe. And that Amy Cooper was held accountable for her actions — although she should have also been fined or charged for making a fraud 911 call and for not leashing her dog.
On a side note, LOL on the video!!! I didn’t know there was such an avid community of bird watchers here in New York City. There is a whole bunch of adorable bird nerds!!! I must get to Central Park more often — my bird watching has been seriously limited to pigeons and sparrows (no knock on them though, I love all animals:)
I stand by my comment yesterday lol. Until these idiots face the kind of debilitating consequences poc and their families face when shit like this goes down, it won’t stop. Lawyer fees. Loss of income due to prison time. Loss of reputation. A cascade of negative, heavy life-altering emotional pain.
Her comment about her life being destroyed in the aftermath….on the same day that another black man was murdered by police brutality is just mind numbing.
Did anyone else notice that Christian was much more worked about about protecting the habitat for the birds then about the racism? It shows both his sincerity about loving his birds (my parents are just like this- I think it’s so awesome) and also sadly that he’s kind of used to the racism.
She has been fired…..that’s a huge punishment. She would have been making a good income working at that company.
I am both surprised and pleased that the bird nerds are so woke! Go birders!
For some reason, the fact that he was wearing a bike helmet makes it even more ludicrous to me. Whoever heard of feeling threatened by a guy in a bike helmet?
Wow. I finally sat down and listened to the video and just…wow. No way does she not realize she’s using her whiteness/his blackness to her advantage. I’m a white woman and I have called the cops on other people in a few situations (asshole dog owners, actually) and I can honestly say it would never have occurred to me to put on such a performance for the dispatcher (admittedly, the people I have called the cops about we’re white). I totally do not buy that she was scared and not thinking. She was pissed and trying to threaten this guy because he asked her to break the rules.
Sorry for my shallow comment, but he’s a cutie!!…
Glad she was fired and that everything turned out fine for Mr. Cooper, but unfortunately racim is a recurrent thing worldwide. Idon’t understand it.
Hope she gets prosecuted for making false accusations.
I’m very happy to see these examples of bigotry and hatred quickly brought to light… I feel like this can only help humans end our history of discrimination and ignorance towards each other.
However, as a human who is not a bigot, and who also happens to bear the name “Karen”, (through no choice of my own) I’d just like to point out that North American society suddenly using it as a pejorative is hurtful, and ironically, an example of branding everyone with a nasty label based on individual experience.
Surely you all can do better and call Amy Cooper, and all like her, just what they are without labels that further hurt and alienate others. They are ignorant, they are full of hate, they are destructive racists …. they are not “Karens”.
Thanks for reading and keeping your minds open.
Same here (fellow Karen). The catch-22 of this is that, if you complain, people jump all over you for “being a Karen.” They think they’re clever when they joke, “That’s exactly what a Karen would say!” Sorry, nope: not clever. Not original either.
I don’t understand why so many ostensibly pro-women, anti-shaming websites have embraced this unfunny meme.
I understand the plight of Karens so much.
My name is Mary – like the virgin and I am so offended by references to The Blessed Virgin Mary. I am not virginal and have been around the block plenty and cant stand it when people assume Im a virgin because a my name
Sarcasm
I know, right? Name-calling white women is the worst part of this whole situation. I mean, when I read about white men hunting down black men who are jogging in their neighborhoods, I’m like “oh my god that’s awful but we can please stop referring to white racist men as Chad please? I know a Chad who is such a great guy and it is SO hurtful to him!” And then when I read about white women calling in the white cavalry to hunt down the black men in the parks who aren’t letting them just be white in peace, I’m like “oh my god people are so racist and it awful and definitely terrible BUT now that I have made sure everyone knows how non-racist I am can we please stop name calling white women because it’s hurtful and anti-woman and I just need us all to stop thinking about what this white woman did for a minute to understand how I FEEL about using a white sounding name to make us all sound like we’re bad people it HURTS ME in my FEELINGS and I can’t read this article about a white woman attempting to have the police murder a black man for asking her to leash her dog unless you can all pause to understand that you are hurting white women’s feelings!”
I mean, “all lives matter”, amiright? It’s heartening to see how many white women are definitely taking the correct understanding of this situation and then using this sort of thing to open up an arguably VERY important discussion about how we should really be nicer to white people and not generalize us like that. Maybe more people would care about the murders and attempted murders of unarmed black men, if people would just try to understand how us white people feel when we are called racist or assumed to be racist or have our names made fun of.
Also, not for nothing, but white people have been mocking traditionally “black” names forever. Seriously, you both need to re-read the article and think about why what truly upsets you enough to comment is this white woman being referred to as “a Karen”. FFS people, do better.
Also, I feel like I need to add a note here; I am being very sarcastic about my concern for the Chad’s and the Karen’s. Actually couldn’t care less about how white people “feel” about this; actions are more important than words are more important than names. White fragility is a disgrace.
Thank you Megan.
Megan2, great comments. The sarcasm came through crystal clear for me.
seriously. Well said, Megan. ALL OF IT. I have three friends named Karin/Karen, and ALL of them just laugh about it. “Hi, I’m Karin. But I’m not a Karen!” delivered with a laugh.
lighten the F up, KARENS. don’t be all #notallwhitepeople. WE KNOW “not all white people”…people complaining about Karens and F’ed up white folk are talking about the Karens and white folk that SUCK. I am white but I am not a bigot, so when my friends who are not white talk about white people sucking, I’m like “yeah, I know…” because I know who they ARE talking about and who they’re NOT talking about.
Thanks you guys. I don’t know why, but this pearl clutching about using the name Karen has just gotten under my last nerve. I am upset and irate by what I honestly think was attempted murder (there is NO WAY she didn’t know exactly what would be the consequences of her actions) and it’s horrifying… and then a bunch of white Karens (or Jennifers or Megans or WHO CARES IT IS JUST A NAME) complaining about their feelings… I just don’t have the energy for the white tears. If someone can spend 3 lines to express what are basically “thoughts and prayers” for this poor man and then 3 paragraphs explaining why her personal white woman feelings are hurt… I mean, if that’s not Karen I don’t know who is.
whatWHAT, you expressed it perfectly with #notallwhitepeople. If that is what someone is worried about, they probably are who is being spoken about.
Megan2, urgh girl thank you! I saw that post yesterday and wanted to reply, but I am done dealing with white folks this week. I can’t reiterate this enough, I don’t give a damn about your white fragility, especially not while the Black and (my own) Brown community is continuously threatened and killed.
It is possible to hold more than one thought in one’s head. You should try it sometime.
I’m so glad he filmed it.
I sent Franklin Templeton a scathing email about how, as a Canadian, even I couldn’t ignore the blatant racism of this terrible woman, an educated woman with an executive position at a huge investment corporation. It’s not like she’s some Trumpette in a MAGA t-shirt and baseball cap screaming about commies at a rally in Bumblefuck Missouri.
It took them less than 24 hours to respond to my email stating that these are not qualities FT condones or tolerates, and that after careful consideration she was relieved of her position.
That’s how it’s done, nip it in the bud. Great career-ending move Amy Cooper…hope you enjoy your next job as a bank teller.
Lol! The same email they sent out to everyone who complained. She was definitely in the wrong but he kind of baited her by saying he was going to do something she wouldn’t like. She then freaked. Two wrongs!
Seriously?
Two wrongs?
One person offered a dog treat to a loose dog and asked a person to comply with park rules,
The other person violated park rules, let their dog run free in a protected area with no regard of whether it was degrading the park for the wildlife, the plants, the other members of the public who visit the park. And then when asked to follow the rules stormed up to the guy, threatening to breach safe social distance guidelines, threatened to call the cops for no good reason, and then did call the cops with a false accusation about an “African American man threatening her and her dog” and when she didn’t get the immediate response she wanted, she amped up the drama pretending she was in fear for her life. All while dragging her dog around by the collar, so much that at times only two, or even zero of his paws touched the ground and he was having trouble breathing.
So, no. Not “two wrongs”
no, not two wrongs. North of Boston sums it up perfectly. she was already in the wrong when he offered her dog a treat. (side note: OH THE HORROR!)
if you think the “two wrongs” were equally bad, you’re a Karen, too.
I won’t even give you a “you tried”. because you didn’t.
He shouldn’t have said he was “going to do something she wouldn’t like”. He could have said I’m going to video you and your shitty behaviour. What he did say could have been interpreted as a threat by someone who is obviously hysterical and racist. I stand by my opinion.
Oh yeah sure a man that looks like that is really threatening. He never moved from his spot. Two wrongs my ass.
Context. Dont take it out of context. He gave the dog a treat. There was no threat. If she felt threatened she would have left. She stayed and confronted him and charged him aggressively.
go ahead, stand by your opinion, but know that your logic, however you figured it, is faulty.
he was not aggressive. he did not approach her. SHE CHARGED AT HIM. he was not a threat. if he had said those words while walking or running toward her, you might have a leg to stand on. but he didn’t, he spoke those words while pulling dog treats out of his pocket.
don’t “both sides” this. SHE was the threat to him. period. end of!
@The Quill – I am aware that FT sent out a blanket apologia to everyone, not just me, so no reason to smirk and LOL. I am stating that I admire FT for their quick resolution and response to the public and clients. Furthermore, it’s not a case of “two wrongs”, he was WELL within his rights to politely ask if she would leash her dog. That SHE chose to react in an aggressive and threatening manner to HIM doesn’t warrant him backing down meekly, especially given the appalling number of unwarranted killings of black men lately. She turned what would have been a minor incident, had Christian Cooper been white, into a “black man threatens white woman” situation. She obviously wouldn’t like having her asinine shit-fit recorded for posterity but she deserved it and everything she got as a result. I stand by MY opinion.
I agree somewhat. However he should not have said he was going to do something she wouldn’t like. He looks like a nice guy and I feel sorry for the dog. She’s a racist bitch!
I can see being startled by any man in the thick woods. But in my world, I’d jump and say, “Oh you scared me!” and laugh. Then I’d leash my dog and wish that man a good day.
As a white woman, I’d like to say, Karen, that’s how you do it.
I salute you gentle bird nerd. I hope you can bird in peace.
Casual bird nerd here… Just wanted to say that Audubon has been speaking out against racism and has been encouraging embracing diversity in the birding community for years now.
The only thing worse than a Karen with kids is a Karen with a dog. She is everything I can’t stand about bad dog owners. Please leash your damn dogs and follow the rules. If I can follow the rules of society with my children, surely you can do it with your dog .
Right and don’t yank your dog around, letting it flail and flop all over the place, and exposing it to injuries. I just wonder how she was handling that dog at home. He/she’s obviously a puppy and/or very hyper and active.
Her tone was so arrogant and entitled. She needs anger management and diversity training stat. Probably treated her co-workers (support staff) shabbily as well.
My heart hurts at the fact that, as others have said, Christian Cooper had to be “perfect” — in who he is (educated, charmingly nerdy, attractive, in the park for legit and adorable reasons) and in how he behaved in the moment (made a rational request in a calm tone, started filming just in time to catch her hypocrisy) — to be believed and supported to this extent. I just think about every Black American that wasn’t as perfect/acceptable/admirable and who was victimized by a lying racist like this woman, and never believed or supported.
It is incredible that it really does come down to having to film this shit to get any form of justice, and agreed with others, that he had to be a “model minority” so no one could essentially vilify him or dig up dirt on him… damn. For shame. I had kept hearing about this but hadn’t seen the video yet, and wow does she goes into hysterics and truly threatens him, for being BLACK essentially, threatens to frame him, and then attempts to do so! All caught on film. I just.. I can’t. I cannot. Like wtf?? And that poor dog, it was freakin the f out, rightfully so.
God. I can’t… I’m glad he filmed it. It’s so scary to think what might have happened (and does happen) to other black men and women..
What is her job? Why does she need to be fired? Will people be annoyed when someone else hires her? Like, she needs to work for a living…
I could see if she worked in animal safety or something anti racist but if she just had a normal job, why is it a must she be sacked?
Because decent people don’t want racists working at their companies. Her company wants nothing to do with her because she is a terrible racist who tried to frame a black man for assault.
I’m sure there are POC that work in her office or under her direct supervision and that would be so unfair to subject them to her presence after this.
Yep sure but for how long? Forever? Should she go on benefits for life?
A normal job? What’s a normal job for racists, then?
dont forget Emmit Till. The white woman woman who accused him of catcalling her waited untik she was on her death bed to admit the truth.
black blood has soaked american land since they dragged us here from Africa.
Its inhumane. She knew what she was doing and she wanted him dead. Calling the police on black people is a death sentence.
It be a real turn if events if Christian adopted the dog. 😇
It would! But having known a few bird nerds they generally don’t want dogs running around and scaring the birds. They take it very seriously lol.
That poor doggie. That woman has no self-regulation and is clearly as batty as she’s racist. So glad the dog will be rehomed. And it’s true all those profiles of Christian Cooper risk promoting a “perfect victim” thinking. This incident reminds me of a book I read recently, Such a Fun Age. Highly recommend it to everyone.
I feel that was a hate crime and that woman should be charged as such. This white entitlement has got to stop!
Omg, I dont know why I love him so much!