Viral videos of Karens seem to be a natural occurrence during the pandemic. With at least one video every week or so surfacing of Karens, or middle-aged women who often complain to managers about the smallest things--often over something that isn't even a mistake, complaining about wearing a mask in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, a new video of another Karen, who is dubbed as "Panera Patty," has surfaced and went viral online.
The Viral Video of Panera Patty
In a report by the Daily Mail, the video was caught in a Panera Bread branch in Chico, California, on Monday, July 20, showing the woman throwing a fit inside the store as they refused to accommodate her as she wasn't wearing a mask.
The video was caught by store patron William See.
Due to the nature of the novel coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), have issued a health protocol mandating everyone to wear masks as shops start opening after the initial lockdown that happened earlier this year caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Because of this new requirement, shops won't be entertaining any would-be customers that don't wear masks.
Unfortunately, it's not going well in some places, including the United States, wherein there's a growing population of anti-maskers or people who refuse to wear masks, saying prolonged usage of face masks is bad for the health.
Nevertheless, experts have already debunked these claims, saying face masks won't cause carbon dioxide poisoning.
Anti-Masker Refused to Wear Mask Inside Establishment
In the video, the staff of Panera Bread offered the woman a mask to entertain her, but "Panera Patty" refused and remained indignant, throwing a fit inside the store and even taking out her own phone to film the employees of the bakery.
An unseen man, probably a fellow customer, can be heard telling the woman she was selfish for not wearing a mask, and upon hearing that, the unnamed Karen decided to blow air in the direction of the speaker, prompting See to tell her to "grow up."
As the woman decided to leave, she tried sharing her viewpoint, saying, "You think that mask is going to protect you? You fart out your a** you can smell it out of your a**. You think that mask is going to protect you?"
After she left, the employees of the Panera Bread called security.
Panera Bread Speaks Out
"We are committed to following the COVID guidance of the state of California who mandate wearing of masks by team members and guests. We offer masks to guests who do not have them and make an effort to offer other accommodations whenever possible," the shop's spokesperson said in an interview with Newsweek, following the incident.
After the video was uploaded and went viral, people all over the internet who saw it blasted the woman and coined the name "Panera Patty" and called her a "Karen" for her behavior.
Unfortunately, tons of people still believe face masks can't help avoid COVID-19, despite studies by experts proving that they are essential amid the pandemic.
