'Karen' Abigail Elphick says she threw tantrum after attacking Black woman as she feared losing job
New Jersey's 'Victoria's Secret Karen' also dubbed 'Get Away From Me Karen' has finally revealed the reason behind her very vocal and dramatic tantrum inside the lingerie store. The woman, who was identified as teacher's aide Abigail Elphick, was caught on a TikTok video trying to hit a Black customer by the name of Ijeoma Ukenta in the outlet at South Jersey's Short Hills Mall. Tt's not clear yet what triggered the confrontation.
Elphick immediately broke down into loud cries the moment she realized her actions were being filmed. She then proceeded to chase Ukenta around the store screaming "Get away from me" as the Black woman kept the camera focused on her.
Hours later, in a police report of the incident, Elphick revealed she created a scene after Ukenta caught her trying to hit her in the Tiktok video. According to the Millburn Police Department’s recorded statement, she "was concerned about losing her job and apartment if the video was posted online."
News of this comes just two days after another mall Karen racially abused an Asian woman in a Tiktok video, and even punched her 6-year-old son.
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Ukenta, whom AllHipHop identifies as a Muslim Nigerian woman shopping at the same Victoria's Secret outlet Elphick was at, caught the White woman trying to slap the phone off her hand. Ukenta has alleged Elphick was trying to hit her as can be seen at the beginning of the video; but the moment she realizes she's on camera, Elphick breaks down into loud sobs on the store's floor. Fast forward, a few minutes into the video, Elphick can be seen chasing Ukenta around the store almost as if trying to finish what she started, but at one point she faints, claiming it was a mental breakdown and she needed to lie on the ground for a few minutes.
The video has since gained viral traction because despite Ukenta's repeated requests for law enforcement, officers arrived only for Elphick.
Later, when they detailed the incident in a police report, they explained Elphick's actions saying she admitted she was wrong, but it was only out of fear of losing her job.
“Miss Elphick seemed to acknowledge that she was wrong, saying she was concerned about losing her job and apartment if the video posted online. She was having a panic attack about the videotaping. I advised her that Miss Ukenta has a right to videotape. I asked her several times if she was alright and if she needed an ambulance. And she declined repeatedly. She kept expressing her concern about her job and apartment. She finally stated that she was going home, and I asked if she would be OK to drive and she says she was. At this time, Ms Elphick left the mall voluntarily with mall security," reads the full statement.
However, the statement contradicts what was captured on Ukenta's camera. The responding officer can be seen asking her to mail the video as evidence to the police department but doesn't specify the procedure of doing so.
Cops were also not readily helping Ukenta, but she gave an update of the incident on TikTok later, saying: "So, I see everyone asking me for an update. I am at the police station. I have the police report, which is somewhat true, but really, really long. I’m happy I did record because even the officers stated that I only showed him the video of her laying on the floor when I showed him."
Ukenta continued: “Mind you, they took her statement first because, of course, she called the police. And she completely lied. She’s trying to say I started videotaping her causing her to have a panic attack, at which time she followed me to try to get me to stop recording. So, I’m filing the complaint against the two officers that responded. I didn’t feel protected. I’m also filing a complaint against the mall security. Victoria’s Secret, in my opinion … like what do we expect them? Grab this woman? The manager even sent somebody to walk down to get security because they were taking too long. So, I don’t really have any issues with them … not as of yet. Now if they give us problems getting the video, then we’ll talk about that. That’ll be another story.”