"Victoria's Secret Karen" charged after viral store freak out, to face victim in court

Millburn, New Jersey – "Victoria's Secret Karen" is being charged by her victim, and will face court, after a successful crowd-funding campaign for justice. Her victim, a black Muslim woman, managed to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the prosecution.

The woman known as "Victoria's Secret Karen" has been charged.
The woman known as "Victoria's Secret Karen" has been charged.  © Collage: Screenshot/YouTube/MAMA AFRICA MUSLIMAH

Ijeoma Ukenta was shopping in a Victoria's Secret store in Millburn, New Jersey, when she encountered an aggressive woman who attempted to attack her, according to the New York Post.

It's not clear what prompted the attack, but as a Black Muslim woman, Ukenta decided to immediately begin recording the incident in order to protect herself against accusations of aggression.

Ukenta uploaded the videos to her YouTube channel, "Mama Africa Muslimah", dubbing the woman "Victoria's Secret Karen" - a term that has since been adopted across the internet.

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The ensuing scenes are confusing, to say the least, and quite confronting.

Why is "Victoria's Secret Karen" being charged?

In the first clip, the woman comes at Ukenta with her arm raised, appearing as though she intends to strike her. At the last second, however, she seems to realize that Ukenta is filming her, and immediately changes her approach, contorting her face as if she's just been victimized herself.

She then takes a few steps back and pretends to be the victim. "Oh my God!" cries Ukenta moments later, calling the Karen out on her bluff. "I never thought nothing like this would happen to me. She just tried to run and hit me."

Meanwhile, "Victoria's Secret Karen" steadily spins out of control, with other store patrons and cashiers ignoring her completely. At one point, a well-dressed woman who seems to be the store manager stands and watches, refusing to engage with the Karen, who becomes enraged and throws herself on the floor, shaking and screaming.

After that, the woman apparently called the police, but Ukenta refused to stop filming when they arrived. In response to being recorded, the assailant went after Ukenta again, trying to take her phone while chasing her around the store.

Ljeoma Ukenta raises a huge sum on GoFundMe to charge "Victoria's Secret Karen"

Millions of people have since watched the eight-part video series, with further clips showing conversations with police and mall security.

Feeling let down by law enforcement and mall security, Ukenta turned to GoFundMe to raise funds for legal representation against her assailant.

She wrote on the site, "I was assaulted and harassed by a white woman and and nothing was done by security nor the police. I'm looking to hire me an excellent attorney who can help me bring light to this wrong."

An astonishing $105,211 had been raised by Friday, coming from people all over the world who were shocked by the videos Ukenta had posted of the incident.

"Victoria's Secret Karen" charged for alleged attack of Ljeoma Ukenta

Ljeoma Ukenta raised hundreds of thousands on GoFundMe to charge "Victoria's Secret Karen".
Ljeoma Ukenta raised hundreds of thousands on GoFundMe to charge "Victoria's Secret Karen".  © Screenshot/YouTube/MAMA AFRICA MUSLIMAH

Ukenta will now be able to afford a lawyer to bring some clarity to the shocking situation. TMZ reported that the "Victoria's Secret Karen" claimed that she freaked out and had a panic attack because Ukenta was recording her.

She said that she was worried about losing her job, and had no racist motives - she did not, however, acknowledge why she was being recorded in the first place.

Essex County Police are also conducting an investigation into how the police handled the situation, as they claimed that there were no "legal precedents" for them to remove the Karen from the store, despite her displaying aggressive behavior.

Cover photo: Collage: Screenshot/YouTube/MAMA AFRICA MUSLIMAH

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