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“Karen” Gets Karma After Racist Tirade Toward Indian-American Family On Plane
“Karen” Gets Karma After Racist Tirade Toward Indian-American Family On Plane
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“Karen” Gets Karma After Racist Tirade Toward Indian-American Family On Plane

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A wedding photographer and his Indian-American family were the subject of a racist “Karen” attack this past week on a United Airlines shuttle bus.

Pervez Taufiq shared a recording of the altercation on Instagram after landing in Los Angeles from Cancun with his wife and three sons.

The incident reportedly started when the father defended his kids, who were “harassed” and told to “shut up.”

Highlights
  • A racist incident occurred on a United Airlines shuttle towards an Indian-American family.
  • The incident was shared on Instagram by Pervez Taufiq.
  • A fellow passenger defended the family and called out the woman.
BP Daily - Your Source for Unbiased Reporting

    A racist “Karen” was seen hurtling insults at an Indian-American family after a United Airlines flight

    Wedding photographer, Pervez Taufiq, at airport, with people and luggage in the background.

    Image credits: ptaufiqphotography

    A wedding photographer and family on a crowded United bus face insults from a passenger.

    Image credits: ptaufiqphotography

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    The woman, wearing a green striped T-shirt, said “you’re a pr–ck” at Pervez as he started recording her, subsequently throwing up two middle fingers. 

    “Your family is from India,” she told the family on November 24. “You have no respect, you have no rules, you think you can push everyone — push, push, push… that’s what you think you are. You guys are f–king crazy.”

    A woman in a green shirt on a bus, visibly upset, with other passengers in the background.

    Image credits: ptaufiqphotography

    Pervez entertained her for a brief moment, questioning whether she’d tell him to “have some more curry, right?” 

    Later on, she pulled out her phone in order to “record your f–king tandoori –ss.”

    After the father asked a person off-camera to remove her from the vehicle, she responded with the claim that he was being “racist towards [her].”

    “I’m American,” she stated and said Pervez couldn’t say the same for him or his family. “You’re from f–king India.”

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    The commotion eventually worked in Pervez’s favor as United Airlines staff got involved

    Passenger on a bus expressing anger.

    Image credits: ptaufiqphotography

    The Instagram clip later cut to an employee asking the woman to get off the shuttle.

    A fellow passenger said, “She’s out of line, she’s drunk, and we need her off the bus.

    “She’s been on the bus cussing and screaming,” he continued. “She started calling racist slurs at this nice family. They didn’t do anything — she doesn’t need to be on this bus.”

    Passenger on United flight, capturing video with phone, involved in incident with wedding photographer and family.

    Image credits: ptaufiqphotography

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    Eventually, she was removed from the shuttle. 

    “It’s one of those things you feel like an out-of-body experience,” Pervez told the New York Post. “We’ve seen things like that on the Internet, we just never thought we’d be in one.”

    Though the bus was quite crowded, only one person decided to speak up about the injustice

    United Airlines terminal with passengers walking by.

    Image credits: HNTB

    On social media, Pervez’s wife additionally expressed her disappointment to the many people who decided to stay silent during the verbal “abuse.” To her, this was a passive way of supporting the racist woman.

    “To the Good Samaritan who stood up: thank you. You reminded us that even one voice can make a difference,” she wrote. “To everyone else, your silence was hurtful, and it reinforced the barriers we fight so hard to break down.

    “It’s a reminder of how crucial it is to speak up, to act, and to stand against hate, no matter how uncomfortable it may feel in the moment.”

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    Two people stand near a United plane.

    Image credits: ptaufiqphotography

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    Comments on Pervez’s post stood in support of him and his family.

    “I’m so sorry you endured this but kudos to United and those around you for handling the situation appropriately,” wrote one person, while another echoed, “I hope this woman has been outed and paid some harsh consequences.” 

    Racism towards Indian-Americans in the US has reached shocking heights

    United bus at airport with mountains painted on side, related to wedding photographer and family incident.

    Image credits: United

    A study conducted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, published in 2021, reported that one in two Indian-Americans regularly encounter discrimination in the U.S. 

    Respondents confirmed that biases towards darker-skinned individuals were the most common form of this discrimination.

    Milan Vaishnav, co-author of the study and director and senior fellow of Carnegie’s South Asia program, noted, “When it comes to country of origin or skin color, almost three quarters of perpetrators were identified as non-Indians.”

    She added, “Indians seem to be blamed more for discrimination that takes place along religion and gender lines.”

    Netizens are hoping her name will be leaked so she can be held accountable for her words

    A comment insulting someone, related to a wedding photographer and family incident on a United flight.

    Text comment expressing disapproval of behavior, related to wedding photographer incident on United flight.

    Text comment from Poppy Charnalia discussing highlighted obnoxious behavior.

    Comment by user about a wedding photographer and family facing insults from a United passenger.

    Social media comment supporting wedding photographer after an incident on a flight.

    Comment praising United passengers for addressing bad behavior towards a wedding photographer and family.

    Comment applauding wedding photographer and family's calm response to insults on flight.

    Comment praising calmness during disrespect, related to a wedding photographer's encounter on a United flight.

    Instagram comment showing support for a wedding photographer's restraint after being insulted.

    Comment on viral incident involving wedding photographer and family on flight, condemning passenger's insults, suggesting no-fly list.

    Instagram comment expressing sympathy to wedding photographer and family after flight incident.

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    Michelle Tian

    Michelle Tian

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    Hi, there! I'm a newswriter at Bored Panda, born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. I have a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University, as well as a philosophy minor. A few of my other hobbies include dancing, reading, cooking, or listening to a true crime podcast. My favourite thing to report on includes groundbreaking news in the field of science — particularly marine biology! I definitely didn't do well very well studying it in school, but being a journalist lets me live out those dreams in a different and exciting way!

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    Michelle Tian

    Michelle Tian

    Writer, Community member

    Hi, there! I'm a newswriter at Bored Panda, born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. I have a bachelor's degree in journalism from Boston University, as well as a philosophy minor. A few of my other hobbies include dancing, reading, cooking, or listening to a true crime podcast. My favourite thing to report on includes groundbreaking news in the field of science — particularly marine biology! I definitely didn't do well very well studying it in school, but being a journalist lets me live out those dreams in a different and exciting way!

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    Janelle Collard
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    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This will get worse after Jan. 20, 2025, sadly. :(

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    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This will get worse after Jan. 20, 2025, sadly. :(

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