#42: A 1990s Book That Predicted the Future

While I’m sure this was random, it’s pretty poignant looking back. No one wants to answer calls from Karens anymore. Could this be the original Karen example that started the trend? Sadly, no. It’s believed that Dane Cook, an American comedian, coined the term, though some say he stole the skit from Louis CK.

The routine was called “The Friend That Nobody Likes” and first came out in 2004. If you’re asking yourself what came first, the Karen meme or the Speak to the Manager haircut, it’s the latter, but Karen quickly took hold as an easy label for white women who use their privilege to cause problems for people “below” them. It will go down in history, that’s for sure.