Photo via @bamskye2426/TikTok
September 23, 2021, 11:36 am
A grown woman who has become the latest in a long series labeled as a “Karen” for failing to mind her own business in what was described as a dive diner by a TikTok user and mom of a pair of adorable kids who committed the offense of happily laughing at their table. At least one of the kids is autistic, which the mom pointed out to the Karen when she approached demanding that the family leave, suggesting she take them to Chuck E. Cheese instead.
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“This is not the place,” she says, claiming to “understand” after being informed that there is an autistic kid with them.
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It seems unlikely that the woman understands because if she knew anything about autism, she would have realized that a high-intensity establishment with lots of flashing lights and loud noises could easily be overwhelming to an autistic person.
“Also note the kids aren’t yelling she is, the kids didn’t leave the table to bother anyone, she did,” the overlay text reads, “no one had a fit except her and the kids were only laughing and talking.”
Although loud and disruptive children are an occasional real annoyance that people have encountered while eating out, the TikTok user happened to capture her kids on video shortly before the Karen started complaining. The two kids, strapped into booster seats, can be seat smiling and laughing, with the laughs being perhaps a little loud and high-pitched for some people’s complete and utter comfort. However, many commenters have pointed out that maybe putting up with a minor irritation is worth letting the kids experience a bit of unrestrained joy.
Instead, the Karen reportedly not only complained to the staff and the mother, she demanded free food from the diner, claiming that she can’t afford to eat out very much — something multiple commenters had a hard time believing after spotting the Louis Vuitton bag on her shoulder. Some have speculated that she only complained in the first place in order to get her meal for free.
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Either way, the woman might consider that a mom with autistic kids probably also doesn’t get to eat out much, whether due to the costs of childcare and healthcare in the U.S. or because of people like her who treat autistic people like they should be hidden away for her convenience and comfort.
A third video shows the diner manager apologizing to the TikTok mom as another woman, who was apparently with the Karen, mentions getting a free meal out of the deal.
The mom was reportedly out with her friends and their kids for a total of six children who seem to remain remarkably well-behaved if not “silent” while some adults are making a big scene about them daring to laugh and enjoy themselves.
The original video, even after being taken down once by TikTok for some reason, has gained over two million views and thousands of comments, most of them supportive and grateful to the mom for standing up to a Karen. Plenty also pointed out that while children generally have a more difficult time restraining themselves in consideration of others, they still deserve to eat out once in a while just like any adult.
Plus, they never demand free food just because another table was kind of loud for a minute.
“Kids are humans and can be in a restaurant,” reads one of the top comments. “If you want a quiet dinner, home is good.”
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“This has always bothered me,” says another. “Don’t go to a family restaurant if you don’t want noise.”
*First Published: September 23, 2021, 11:36 am
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