A TikTok influencer who attended the grand opening of a Panda Express in Herndon, Virginia has called out a “Karen” and her friend after she claimed they were mean to her at the event. The influencer, who arrived early to cover the opening, claims she was targeted and bullied by two women who accused her of “robbing” the community.
TikToker “jennikookie” initially shared her experience at the Panda Express in a video where she spoke positively of the whole ordeal, only briefly mentioning her run-in with the “Karen.” However, the video quickly blew up, receiving over a million views with most wanting to know more about the alleged Karen and what went down between her and Jennifer.
In a second video Jennifer gave her viewers a rundown of the events. She claimed that she arrived at the Panda Express early, around 7:20 a.m., and began to wait. Shortly afterward a manager came out and she told them she was waiting for the grand opening and they asked for her name.
Shortly afterward she noticed two kids were also waiting, but at another entrance. Figuring that was where she was supposed to wait she moved over. Before long there was a sizeable queue. According to Jennifer, the “Karen” arrived and the first thing she was was “are you a worker?” The TikToker claims she wanted to say something then but gave her the benefit of the doubt.
Things get a little tense
Jennifer continued to wait but claimed she was “a little sus” about the “Karen” as she claimed “I felt like she was giving me a little bit of attitude.” The woman also asked where she was from and as Jennifer had just moved from Michigan she joked that she had traveled 11 hours because she loved Panda Express so much. The joke didn’t land.
Things got worse when the woman was joined by her friend and both began talking to the two kids who started waiting a little after Jennifer. The two women got the impression that Jennifer had cut in front of the kids (because she had been waiting at the wrong entrance) and instructed them to cut in front of her. Jennifer described feeling heated, but she stayed quite.
When the doors finally opened a member of staff came out and asked who was first and the two “Karens” tried to claim that the kids had been waiting longer, however, the as the manager had taken Jennifer’s name they knew she had been there first.
Jennifer claimed she later confronted the Karen, asking her, “Do you have an issue with me?” The woman then accused her of “Robbing the Herndon community.” Jennifer ended her video stating she wished she had said more as “she was being so mean,” but she felt overwhelmed.
Commenters on TikTok showed support for Jennifer, calling out the Karen’s alleged behavior. “Her asking if you work there is lowkey racist,” pointed out one viewer. “Shame on her for making you feel bad,” wrote another.
Published: Aug 26, 2026 12:31 pm