City officials have been forced to take down a 'Karen themed' Halloween display after a number of residents complained.
An image shared by a local historic society shows a scarecrow dressed with a straw hat, a T-shirt that says 'Can I speak to the manager?' and a name tag that reads Karen.
'Karen' is an internet meme that became a derogatory way of referring to women who are prone to complain for things otherwise considered unimportant
A release from the City of Prosser, Washington, in the US, read: "The City of Prosser removed the Halloween display at City Hall and has withdrawn its entry into the Historic Downtown Prosser decorating contest.
"City officials acknowledge the display was inconsistent with the spirit of the competition."
The display was put up as part of the Historic Downtown Prosser’s annual decorating contest.
Campaigning group Friends of Downtown Prosser claims the display took aim at one of their leaders, reports the Tri-City Herald.
In an email to the paper, a representative for the group claimed it was about ongoing resistance from the group to an upcoming $16.8m (£15m) deal to replace Prosser City Hall and Police Station.
They said the display's black wig was matched to the representatives hair colour.
She said: “This past weekend, City Hall entered an annual Halloween decorating contest with a ghoulish scarecrow dressed up to look like me. Several people who understood the context behind the display immediately complained to the city.
“Prosser City Hall engaged in targeted, public harassment of a private Prosser citizen on public grounds.
"They created a grotesque effigy to publicly humiliate a city resident as retaliation for opposing a city bond proposal on the upcoming ballot.”
The city have denied the display was directed at anyone.
City Manager Thomas Glover said: “It’s just unfortunate that some people decided it was targeted toward a resident. I think it got out of hand.”
Commenting on Facebook, one user said: “Really? Someone complained about this?? Was her name Karen?”
According to dictionary.com: "Karen is a pejorative slang term for an obnoxious, angry, entitled, and often racist middle-aged white woman who uses her privilege to get her way or police other people’s behaviors."
It surged during Black Lives Matter protests, when videos were circulated of white women – labelled Karens – clashing with demonstrators.
In 2020, women across the UK called Karen united to try and turn around the stigma around their name.
In a series of online petitions they demanded “respect”.
Karen Button, from Wallingford, Oxfordshire, said she has “had enough”.
She said being associated with women “who are racist or not law abiding is upsetting and unfair”.
Another Karen wrote: “We are not Medusa-like beings or fire-breathing dragons.
"And we are definitely not racist.”
She added she is not privileged and does not have a bad hairdo – other traits mocked in internet memes.
