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We all know how difficult it can be for Black people to simply exist in public spaces without attracting the unwanted attention of Karens and their Ken-tlemen counterparts, who tend to be entitled and prone to asserting authority they simply don’t have. And, of course, when Black people refuse to bend to white people’s non-authority, Karens and Dilberts (I’m just going to keep throwing out suggestions for male Karen monikers) either start playing the victim, or they start lashing out with childish temper tantrums — or both. (Usually both.)
Anyway, a viral video has been floating around the interwebs that shows London-based Black pianist Camden Stewart — an online content creator who posts videos of him using public pianos to show off his exquisite and masterful skills as a trained musician — being heckled by some disgruntled white man who seemed to want a turn on the piano but was unwilling to wait for it.
Normally, Stewart’s videos also capture the reactions of the thoroughly impressed and delighted audiences that gather around him. Those audience members were there this time, too, but among them, was an impatient Karen-bro who got so angry at Stewart’s unbotheredness in response to his jeers that he told the young artist, “I hope you die!”
Stewart posted the video on X under the caption: “Did not expect this today.”
“Can you let someone else play, please?” Karen-XY asked while taking a tone that might have gotten him smacked in the mouth if he had chosen the wrong one to take it with.
But Stewart didn’t dignify the Kar-Man’s rudeness with a response. Instead, he just kept on playing without so much as acknowledging his heckler, which only prompted him to get more insensed and shout, “F**k you!”
Stewart finished playing the song he was in the middle of, and the audience around him applauded him and complimented his talent as they usually do — except for that one Scott who was bound and determined to be the wettest of wet blankets.
“Can you let someone else play, please? You’ve been playing for ages. It’s a public piano,” the Caiden exclaims.
Stewart continues to pay him no mind, and the lack of attention sends Bart the Decepti-Karen into a rage.
“You’re a f**ing c***!” the man shouts. “F** you. Hope you die.”
Camden Stewart eventually leaves without so much as looking in the angry white man’s direction, and then someone else gets on the bench just before the video ends.
For the most part, the online response to Stewart’s video has been positive towards the artist and influencer — not so much in regard to the Man-Karen who appeared to loathe the display of Black excellence.
From Atlanta BlackStar:
The video drew more than one million views on Facebook and thousands of comments from viewers who praised Stewart’s composure and condemned the man’s behavior. Many thought the conduct of the heckler, who is white, was a product of jealousy and racism.
“Keep making beautiful music!!!!! He’s upset because he has no life goals and jealous that a young talented black man has all the attention, treat him like the child he is and ignore,” one viewer wrote.
“People who act this way and spew this much hatred are mad at themselves because they realize that they will never be as great as the people they attempt to destroy,” someone else said. “They lack the talent, compassion, and education required to be considered a decent human being.”
“I also think (Stewart) should hire security because bigots hate to see us shine when we don’t fit in their stereotype view of us,” another person wrote.
Indeed, Camden Stewart, who reportedly has more than 800,000 followers on Instagram and nearly 600,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, doesn’t need to concern himself with one wayward white man who thought he could throw his caucasity-infused weight around and dull a young, gifted and Black man‘s shine.
Still, some of these Karens and Brads really need to learn they can’t just speak to Black people any old kind of way. Eventually, they’ll try it with someone who isn’t going to simply ignore them, but they’ll wish they did.
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