Kaiser Permanente is investigating after a viral video showed an unidentified white Latina harassing a Black man over her son’s missing cellphone at a California Walmart.
Ya’Shear Bryant was minding his Black business at a Walmart store in Moreno Valley when he was accosted by the woman, according to Complex. In a video posted on his Facebook page, Bryant claimed the unidentified woman approached him and asked if he had her son’s phone because a locator app allegedly led her to his car.
“I know I’m Black with tattoos, so she automatically assumes I have it,” Bryant said as his adversary stood nearby.
Bryant claimed the woman was eyeballing him while shopping in the Walmart store and followed him to the parking lot. He repeatedly stated he doesn’t have the phone, but the woman refused to back off.
“She runs up to me and says, ‘Excuse me, you have my son’s phone?’ I pull my phone out and tell her I do not,” Bryant said. “The reason I’m not leaving is because I don’t have the phone. That’s why I’m not leaving.”
When Bryant asked for her name, Karenquistador said she wanted to call the cops first while she fiddled with her phone. They bickered for a few moments before Bryant started walking towards the Walmart. As the woman followed him, Bryant said he planned to press charges because he is racially profiled.
Once they were in the store, a manager approached them and asked what was going on. Bryant explained the situation and let the manager know he was recording to ensure his safety. The phone issue was finally resolved when the woman’s son walked up with the missing device in his hand. Apparently, he left it in his mother’s car.
The woman began to walk away with her kids, and Bryant asked for her name.
“No. Go f–k yourself,” she replied.
“That’s okay. I’ll get your license plate.”
The video made its way to Twitter and TikTok, where she was dubbed the Kaiser Karen.
(TWEETS)
Eventually, the streets offered up the name Liz de la Torres and alleged she worked at Kaiser Permanente because of the shirt she was wearing during the incident, per MEAWW. The identification hasn’t been confirmed.
The chatter prompted Kaiser Permanente to release a statement.
Thank you for sharing this. This video has been brought to our attention and we are actively investigating it. The conduct in this video does not in any way reflect the views or beliefs of Kaiser Permanente.
— Kaiser Permanente (@aboutKP) July 14, 2021
“Thank you for sharing this,” the healthcare company tweeted. “This video has been brought to our attention, and we are actively investigating it. The conduct in this video does not in any way reflect the views or beliefs of Kaiser Permanente.”
