[imagesource: Fiona Goodall/Pool via Reuters]

Nobody wants to be called a Karen.

But sometimes the shoe fits, and it must be worn.

South African Karens can often be spotted mid-mask meltdown, demanding to speak to a manager and quoting legal statutes that don’t exist, which is in keeping with global traditions.

In fact, the scourge of the Karens has now inspired a movie, simply titled Karen, the trailer for which is being torn apart on social media.

Even New Zealand’s parliament isn’t exempt from Karen accusations, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern getting a sly dig in.

The story starts with Judith Collins, the leader of the opposition, who has been arguing against changes to the country’s hate speech laws.

New Zealand’s government has proposed introducing much harsher penalties for people who incite or “normalise” discrimination or hatred.

Collins raised the Karen question on Twitter:

Will calling a middle-aged white woman a ‘Karen’ now be a crime under Jacinda Ardern’s law? https://t.co/nDiMOU7NLB

— Judith Collins (@JudithCollinsMP) June 29, 2021

Yesterday, that comment came back to haunt Collins, with Ardern putting the boot in:

That’s not much of a rebuke from Collins, whose feathers seem well and truly ruffled.

Also, how refreshing to not hear the words ‘honourable member’.

After the exchange, Collins was back on Twitter:

Apparently insulting women for either being named Karen and/or for being middle aged white women is fine, under Jacinda Ardern’s new law. https://t.co/YSdTSWJGJ8

— Judith Collins (@JudithCollinsMP) June 30, 2021

Again, not really a zinger of a comeback.

[source:guardian]