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AIBU?

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Original poster

Karen’s Diner/Katie Hopkins - cancel?

344 replies

RosaMoline · 16/02/2024 22:56

Quick question:
In the words of Mumsnet, AIBU?
It’s my eldest’s 30th this year, and as a surprise I’ve planned a day out for us on March 17th. We’re going to Hello Kitty cafe, Priscilla the Party and ending up in Karen’s Diner in Islington.
Some of you might know Karen’s from Social media. You basically get insulted and it looks very amusing.
I see from their insta, they’re doing some kind of collaboration with Katie Hopkins in their Manchester and Birmingham restaurants I think.
I am horrified and have left comments to that effect.
I actually feel that I want to cancel, and it’s a shame as it’s something we’d wanted to do for ages.
I however, cannot give my hard earned ££ to an organisation that is giving a platform to a racist right wing Trump supporting bigot.
Am I being unreasonable to cancel our reservation??

OP posts:
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6
EasternStandard · 17/02/2024 09:49

HarrietTheFireStarter · 17/02/2024 08:28

Karen's Diner is shite anyway.

It sounds it

Longma · 17/02/2024 09:49

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

ThinWomansBrain · 17/02/2024 09:48

either you have bizarre taste or you dislike your DD

Maireas · 17/02/2024 09:47

crumblingschools · 17/02/2024 09:36

@Maireas so if she picks on a particular person is that freedom of speech or bullying?

What do you think?!

StrawberryEater · 17/02/2024 09:46

Sureaseggs44 · 17/02/2024 09:34

Don’t you believe in the principle of free speech then ?

you are free to cancel , they are free to join up with KH . They both sound as bad as one another .

But she does not always monetise . You can watch her for free on Twitter .

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Isn’t that the OP exercising her right to free speech? I don’t understand why you think her cancelling and saying why, is at odds with the concept of free speech.

Baldieheid · 17/02/2024 09:45

Flamme · 17/02/2024 09:39

But OP has an absolute right to take away her custom from a business that wants to support a horrible bigoted woman.

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And she has. Voting with your feet abd purse is more powerful than we think.

puzzledout · 17/02/2024 09:43

Well done fir taking your custom elsewhere.

Baldieheid · 17/02/2024 09:43

crumblingschools · 17/02/2024 09:01

@Baldieheid you disagree with the misuse of the name Karen as that is misogynistic and bullying but KH is allowed to say anything she likes and that isn’t bullying

Sorry, but just to come back to this.

When I used the word "bullying" it was in reference to another poster being tormented by her "friends" on social media about her name, Karen, as a result of the meme.

Karen's Diner as a brand is sexist and ageist.

Her friends are bullying her.

Two connected but independent things.

Flamme · 17/02/2024 09:39

Baldieheid · 17/02/2024 08:27

I really dislike many of the things KH has said, but I will defend her right to bloody say them.

If we start censoring speech because it's not what we, personally, believe, then we might as well say goodbye to democracy.

You do not have a right to not be offended.

But OP has an absolute right to take away her custom from a business that wants to support a horrible bigoted woman.

crumblingschools · 17/02/2024 09:36

@Maireas so if she picks on a particular person is that freedom of speech or bullying?

Flamme · 17/02/2024 09:36

Sureaseggs44 · 17/02/2024 09:34

Don’t you believe in the principle of free speech then ?

you are free to cancel , they are free to join up with KH . They both sound as bad as one another .

But she does not always monetise . You can watch her for free on Twitter .

Show quote history

How does this impact on anyone's free speech? OP is simply exercising her right to tell them why she's cancelling. It sounds like you are the one who doesn't believe OP should exercise her right to free speech.

Sureaseggs44 · 17/02/2024 09:34

RosaMoline · 17/02/2024 08:10

I have done & emailed them to tell them exactly why.

Show quote history

Don’t you believe in the principle of free speech then ?

you are free to cancel , they are free to join up with KH . They both sound as bad as one another .

But she does not always monetise . You can watch her for free on Twitter .

SpeedyDrama · 17/02/2024 09:33

Cannot believe the irony of the OP. Wants to go to a Karen diner but cannot abide hateful people like Katie Hopkins.

As far as KP goes, she’s a classic case of not what she’s says but how she says it. Will drop shitbombs but isn’t always wrong. Unfortunately when the things she says are said in a balanced and logical way, it’s never taken on board.

Maireas · 17/02/2024 09:25

Marchintospring · 17/02/2024 09:12

Mumsent is quite fond of shutting other women down by calling them "Hun's" though. I know its not a name but it refers to a specific type of woman MN doesn't show respect for.
I think some posters on here are being a bit hypocritical actually .

No such thing as "mumsnet" - it's not a hive mind. It's a platform. If some people on here use the term "hun" that's their choice. It's not a guideline by MNHQ.

Maireas · 17/02/2024 09:23

crumblingschools · 17/02/2024 09:14

@Maireas but not everything that comes out of KH’s mouth is political

Well, my point is - she's entitled to her opinion and we're entitled to be critical of it if we wish. Having such opinions isn't "bullying" in itself.

Baldieheid · 17/02/2024 09:17

crumblingschools · 17/02/2024 09:01

@Baldieheid you disagree with the misuse of the name Karen as that is misogynistic and bullying but KH is allowed to say anything she likes and that isn’t bullying

Let's put it this way.

I don't want the diners closed. If people want to go there, go ahead. I said I didn't understand anyone going. Not that they shouldn't go.

Same as KH. If people want to hear her speak, let them. If she says things that are illegal, incite violence etc, then I expect the legal system to deal with those appropriately.

Freedom of speech is only freedom if everyone has it. Within the law and, I think, current moral and social norms. I dislike KH, for example, but understand that many disagree with me.

crumblingschools · 17/02/2024 09:14

@Maireas but not everything that comes out of KH’s mouth is political

Marchintospring · 17/02/2024 09:12

Mumsent is quite fond of shutting other women down by calling them "Hun's" though. I know its not a name but it refers to a specific type of woman MN doesn't show respect for.
I think some posters on here are being a bit hypocritical actually .

WillimNot · 17/02/2024 09:06

Definitely cancel.
Not just because the Katie Hopkins Collab but I've seen so many non influencers who've gone and not been paid to do so say the food is awful, the service crap (and not because the niche of slagging you off) and the cost is extortionate.
One said they'd had better food at Burger King and two burgers, fries and a drink came to over £65!

Maireas · 17/02/2024 09:03

Having a political opinion different to your own isn't bullying.
Co-opting a woman's name to perpetuate misogynist tropes, is.

StrawberryEater · 17/02/2024 09:03

Baldieheid · 17/02/2024 08:27

I really dislike many of the things KH has said, but I will defend her right to bloody say them.

If we start censoring speech because it's not what we, personally, believe, then we might as well say goodbye to democracy.

You do not have a right to not be offended.

But defending free speech does not mean that you are obliged to give money to them, particularly if you disagree with what they say. And free speech (as a general concept) must include the right to say what you think of their views and withdraw your support from companies who you feel support things you disagree with. Basic tenets of freedom and indeed capitalism, surely?

crumblingschools · 17/02/2024 09:01

@Baldieheid you disagree with the misuse of the name Karen as that is misogynistic and bullying but KH is allowed to say anything she likes and that isn’t bullying

StrawberryEater · 17/02/2024 08:59

Charlie2121 · 17/02/2024 06:49

Katie Hopkins and Tommy Robinson for that matter are attacked because of people’s inability to listen to what they actually say.

They are demonised because of how people characterise them. That is easier for many on the left to do because it prevents them from ever having to respond to the points being made.

As the famous quote from Margaret Thatcher goes “If they attack you personally it means they have not a single political argument left”

That pretty much sums up the left these days.

Nope. Most people think they are awful precisely because of what they say.

Marchintospring · 17/02/2024 08:57

Baldieheid · 17/02/2024 08:27

I really dislike many of the things KH has said, but I will defend her right to bloody say them.

If we start censoring speech because it's not what we, personally, believe, then we might as well say goodbye to democracy.

You do not have a right to not be offended.

This really.

I also think the Karen name is shit but the idea behind the cafe it is fine. Calling it he "Fawlty Towers experience" is too dated (although I think someone tried that too).

Sendintheultrafrownz · 17/02/2024 08:55

Karen' is an ageist, misogynistic term.

Why would you want to go to a place that prides itself on being ageist and misogynistic?

This

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