Moment arrogant ‘Karen’ blows a kiss at a landscaper in California before demanding to see his ‘papers' as he asks her to move away because she’s not wearing a mask
A white woman in California harassed a landscaper mowing a complex's lawn this week by asking to see his 'papers' and arrogantly blowing a kiss at him.
Footage shared to social media shows Juan Andrade, of Rancho Mirage, being stereotyped by a woman demanding to see his 'papers.'
The video begins with the woman blowing a haughty kiss at Andrade, who is in the midst of mowing the lawn at the Parkview Villas apartment complex.
Footage taken by Juan Andrade shows a white woman (pictured) blowing him a kiss and harassing him while working in Rancho Mirage, California
The woman approaches Andrade, who he asks several times to move out of the way because he's working and using large gardening tools.
'Can you step away? You're too close to me right now,' says Andrade, adding that the woman is not wearing a face mask.
'Can you show me your papers,' the woman asks Andrade.
Andrade once again asks the woman to move away, but she insists that 'no, I want to see your papers.'
NBC Palm Springs reports that the woman had made previous racist remarks at Andrade, including three months ago when she told him to 'go back to his country.'
The woman, who did not wear a face mask repeatedly asked to see Andrade's 'papers' and refused to move when he asked
Footage of the incident was shared to social media, where it amassed more than 1.4 million views and many people have labeled the woman a 'Karen.
The name 'Karen' has been used to describe entitled middle-aged white women in modern slang, but can apply to people who use their privilege to exert power in oftentimes unnecessary instances.
The pop culture phrase has skyrocketed in recent months after several 'Karen' incidents were shared online, including one incident when Amy Cooper of New York City falsely reported to police that a black man was attacking her in Central Park after he asked that she leash her dog.
In this case, the term 'Karen' has been used as a catch-all moniker to categorize a number of Americans who stereotype others without cause or evidence.
Cooper was filmed falsely telling police that Cooper, who is not related to her, was threatening her life after he told her to leash her dog
Unknown to the woman, Andrade has worked for his landscaping company in California for 10 years.
'It’s usually been about the work, but never to instigate or harass me,' he said.
Andrade says he was mowing the apartment complex's lawn when the woman approached him and refused to leave him alone.
'When she was harassing me, I started to feel mad because I was just doing my work,' he said.
Immigration lawyers who have seen the video said some people think they're acting as makeshift police, but their actions are simply racist.
'Unless you are law enforcement, but aside from that, they are using that conversation as just another way to intimidate and create objects out of human beings who appear to be different from them,' Megan Beaman Jacinto, a immigration lawyer from Coachella Valley, told NBC Palm Springs.
Juan Andrade (pictured): 'When she was harassing me, I started to feel mad because I was just doing my work'
Andrade said he reported the incident to his employer and will avoid the area in the future.
'Based on what I have seen from her,' said Andrade, 'I think she thinks she didn’t do anything wrong. She believes she’s in the right, so I don’t think she’ll ever apologize.'
But the City Attorney Steve Quintanilla, along with Housing Authority’s Manager Marcus Aleman, revealed they would launch an investigation into the incident.
They said in a statement; 'The Rancho Mirage Housing Authority has a zero-tolerance policy for this type of behavior and the harassment of any one, including other tenants, visitors, guests and contracted vendors conducting work at its affordable senior housing properties.'
City officials in Rancho Mirage have launched an investigation into the matter after the footage went viral on social media
Additionally, several neighbors in the area have condemned the woman's actions after viewing the video.
'We don’t need people like that living here,' said resident Evelyn DeMaria.
'We live around the neighborhood and we are supposed to be more together and more friendly.'
Amalia Aztlan, a local and President for Democratic Women of the Coachella Valley, said: 'Even when you are working, you have certain rights and the lack of respect to our community is immense.'
Although social media users have attempted to identify the woman, authorities have not disclosed any information or details.
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