Karen’s Diner/Katie Hopkins - cancel?

[RosaMoline]

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??

My name is Karen and because of all the hatred towards people with this name, it has made my life hell. I can’t comment anything on social media without being asked if I want to see the manager. For example, a cute photo of a puppy where I write ‘So adorable!’ and you can guarantee someone will write something like ‘Are you demanding to see the manager’. If you say anything back you get told you are living up to your name. I hate the concept of Karen cafe as it’s feeding dislike for the name Karen. Why the hell did it have to be my name? I already had low self confidence and low self esteem. People who visit the Karen cafes are supporting the name bashing.

I am no Thatcher fan, but I think she would absolutely abhor Hopkins and Robinson. I hope she haunts you 👻 for using her words to defend them!

This was in my local one, not funny, disgusting behaviour. I think the girl was ten! I mean 😒

I know you've already cancelled, OP, but I'm genuinely confused as to why anyone would spend money to have a deliberately uncomfortable couple of hours whilst eating what looks like unremarkable food.

Why does this kind of sexist, ageist claptrap appeal to people? I mean, I maybe get a teenager or 20 something finding it funny - it's not aimed at them and they can bask in the cruel glory that it's their Mum being roasted. It's so not funny when you grow up and deal with that fucking shit on a daily basis just for the crime of having a vagina and not being 25 any more.

imnotgoodenoughtobehere that is horrible. Hopefully the whole Karen thing will eventually die out.

She speaks the unspeakable. It's important to have people who are prepared to do that. It either challenges your own thinking or gives you a new understanding of your own opinion. I think she is very brave. After recent scandals where some celebrities were exposed for shocking behaviour, she spoke about her own reputation. She said that she knew she wasn't perfect and recognised mistakes she'd made. She said it was challenging and lonely. She said those perfect celebrities had judged her openly when their reputations were perfect and their behaviour inappropriate. I dunno. I think she's very brave.

I don’t understand why anyone would pay to be insulted? I’m sure it’s all done in the best possible taste, ( to quote Kenny Everett ) but having been somewhere similar, the ‘jokes’ can be very hurtful.
Also a bit odd to really not like KH, but like being insulted - to your face - by a random stranger in a cafe?

Having given this a great deal of thought due to the responses here, I am truly sorry. It’s very hurtful. I honestly hadn’t thought that deeply about the rights and wrongs of going there, but it’s very insensitive of me. Again, I’m very sorry 💐

I hate it, too. It's not my name but I'm of the generation when it was popular, because its pretty. I despise the sexism and snobbery people show when they use a standard, popular, name as an offensive weapon. I'd find it very difficult not to re-position all those "friends" who use it to hurt you as "blocked". And of course, if you do, you're immediately "too sensitive". They were "only joking". Where's your sense of humour? Yada yada yada.

It's just bullying.

Would she be brave enough to "speak the unspeakable" if she didn't make money out of it?

Well done, op. Women bigging this shit up is the last thing we need.

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.

Karen's Diner is shite anyway.

Bloody hell OP, how vile. Have you not got better things to do with your money? You need a sense of humour adjustment.

@imnotgoodenoughtobehere 💐
That's so horrible, and I can only imagine how it impacts on you. We all need to imagine our first names being used in such a way.
Heaven forfend that a woman 1. gets older 2. tries to assert herself.
It's a vile misogynist trope and it depresses me that some women buy into this because it's "fun" or "our sense of humour". Good luck with bashing any other group in that way.

She is the unspeakable. Hope she will remain so. Don't pay to hear her, you can find the likes of KH in any pub after a couple of gins.

I agree

Karen’s diner sounds more like a punishment than a treat. As the saying goes ‘There’s nowt so strange as folk’.

Is the 'Karen' part of Karen's Diner related to the horrible misogynistic use of Karen by people who think it's funny to abuse middle aged women?

Karen' is an ageist, misogynistic term.

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

This

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).

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

@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

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?

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