My heart goes out to anyone actually named Karen. As of late, the name has taken on new meaning with COVID-19 and is gaslighted by the president’s decision to not wear a mask. (“They’re uncomfortable,” “I look silly,” and “I’ll get Cheetos dust on them,” are three possible presidential responses.)

And if Mr. Trump doesn’t have to wear one, why should you?

Hang in there, person actually, incongruously, named Karen.

By now, you probably know that the internet has popped a virtual vein, associating bad behavior by women -and men – who act entitled, behave rudely, have a flair for drama and want to speak to everyone’s manager.

I’m confused by this. If you have to yell and scream in a store and because they tell you to wear a mask per store policy, take your business elsewhere Sir or Madam! Don’t give them a dollar of your money! Hit them in the wallet. That will teach them. You’re free to shop at a mask-free store if you can find one.

Karen is a disparaging catchall label used not just here in the U.S., but also in other English-speaking countries for a white woman, or man, typically middle-aged, who demands beyond the scope of what is appropriate or necessary. People who yell and threaten in public places are called, “Karen.”

Karens are typically spotted out of doors, on other people’s lawns, at stop lights and especially in big-box stores. They hate wearing a mask because it’s “a muzzle” and they equally reject vaccines because they don’t like being poked. Karens are petty enforcers and don’t play nice with others.

Karens carry their dogs. They do not carry their dog’s poop.

Karens are everywhere. If they don’t like your store policy, they’ll call 911. Karens believe they should get what they want, when they want. Karens watch a lot of Fox and get their news on social media. They do not like Telemundo. Karens become irate when they hear a language that they don’t understand. Typically, Karen’s vocabulary consists of profanity, racial epithets and phrases like, “I’m scared for my life,” and “I know where you live.”

Karens like to throw things (in addition to racial slurs). Karens also like to “throw down.” This is especially true when a Karen encounters a teen or someone younger than them. Karens don’t like children playing in their own yards. Karens hate chalk paint.

Karens wear their mask (if they own one at all), dangling off one ear, like a pandemic Mr. T, wearing some kind of anti-coronavirus dream catcher.

So rather than let that Karen inside you manifest, I’ve come up with a 30-day Karen cleanse that will rid you of any Karenitis that your body may still be experiencing.

Week 1 : Begin each day with quiet meditation and chant the mantra, “It’s not all about me,” “Other people do exist,” “You can go before me in line, you just have that one item,” and “I’m so sorry I threw a bag of cat litter at your head.”

Week 2: Listen to ANY Rosetta Stone CD and explore the culture and language of other nations. This may bring you happiness. Screaming things like, “THIS IS NOT BUENO” doesn’t count as speaking a new language. As we all know, Karens are low on joy and high on negativity. They also have been known to tremble when they yell. There is often spittle.

Week 3: Watch a show that features people that are unlike you in race or speech. I recommend reruns of “In Living Color,” or movies such as “Boyz n the Hood,” or “Slumdog Millionaire.” Do not watch “Mommy Dearest,” as Joan Crawford practically invented the first surreal Karen.

Week 4: Get some action. Shag. Boink. Get randy. Try a game of mattress polo. If you’re a Karen, you’re wound too tight. Karens have the uncanny ability to sit on pieces of coal and produce diamonds.

While it’s hard to determine and confirm the true origin of the Karen meme, many believe it’s derived from a Dane Cook comedy routine in 2005.

Many associate the use of Karen in a pejorative sense with “Mean Girls,” which came out in 2004.

The movie’s line “Oh, my God, Karen – you can’t just ask people why they’re white,” has been used as a meme over the years.

The Queen of Karens- Amy Cooper, also known as Central Park Karen – threatened and fabricated accusations against a Black man after he politely asked her to put her dog on a leash as park rules dictated.

Famous fictional Karens in history include Mrs. Drysdale on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” Judge Smails and his wife in “Caddyshack,” Cruella De Vil from “101 Dalmatians,” and Veruca Salt of “Willy Wonka” notoriety.

Real life Karens include Kate Gosselin, Kayleigh McEnany, Michael Jordan, Usher and Leona Helmsley.

If you watch “The Bachelor,” you can see a cluster of Karens in their natural habitat doing what they do best: crying and screaming.

You’ll see that many times, Karens are just caricatures. They epitomize a behavior or a philosophy. A recent Karen: Hampton selectwoman Regina Barnes, who posted on Facebook: “If you can pretend Bruce Jenner is a woman, and Kamala Harris is Black, then you can definitely pretend that I’m wearing a mask.”

Barnes said (guess!) it was a joke, but few saw the humor in it.

So next time you hear someone say, “I’d like to speak to the manager. I’d like to speak to the police. I’d like to speak to the police manager,” you’ve just had a close encounter with a Karen.

A true Karen post: “My three-year old is not vaccinated and there is currently a measles outbreak in my state. Any suggestions or precautions I can take to protect her would be very much appreciated.” My favorite response: “Bring her to the edge of the flat earth. The air is cleaner there.”

Karens say, “Live, laugh, love.” But when you ask them to wear a mask, it’s now “die, you, commie.”

One Karen complained online about seeing a duck in a dog park.

Posts about Karens include: “For what reason does every apartment complex have a dog weight limit of 20 pounds? I can promise you that my 90 pound golden retriever is a hell of a lot better behaved than Karen’s 7 pound piece of [bleep] devil-worshipping chihuahua.

That’s kind of like Karen-on-Karen violence.

And my favorite? A new cocktail napkin, that simply reads, “Who invited Karen?”

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