Some people love fireworks, others hate them. But generally speaking, it’s never a good idea to threaten someone over a bit of celebratory fun. One California woman, however, didn’t seem to care. In a quiet suburban neighborhood, a group of women appeared to be setting up legal fireworks for a celebration. Just as they were getting ready to light them, a furious neighbor stormed over and began berating them.
Rather than calmly expressing her concerns, the California woman immediately jumped to threats, warning the group that she would “beat the sh*t out of them” if they went through with it. The women tried to explain that the fireworks they bought were legal and that they weren’t breaking any rules. Still, the irate neighbor wouldn’t back down. She barked at them to stop immediately, clearly not interested in hearing any explanation.
Noticing her slurred speech and erratic behavior, one of the group members asked if she was under the influence. The California woman snapped back that it didn’t matter and continued to insist that fireworks were illegal in the area. Despite her shouting and threats, the women decided not to let her ruin their night.
Roughly ten minutes later, they went ahead and launched their fireworks anyway. They filmed the moment as they placed the fireworks by the side of the road and lit them, the bright colors bursting into the dark night sky as laughter echoed in the background.
Though the California woman was clearly out of line for making violent threats, many people online didn’t show much sympathy for the group lighting the fireworks either. On Reddit, several users voiced their frustration over the use of fireworks in general, especially in residential neighborhoods. One commenter summed it up bluntly: “Firework people are annoying and drunk people are annoying. Everyone in this video sucks.”
As the thread continued, some users even admitted to agreeing, at least partially, with the irate woman’s reaction. A few said they wouldn’t mind being labeled a “Karen” if it meant they could put a stop to fireworks in their neighborhoods. One user explained, “They’re super dangerous in dry, fire-prone areas. Folks get injured, they’re loud and annoying, they trigger PTSD in some people, especially combat veterans, they pollute the air and terrify pets and wildlife. This past week, my dog has been an absolute basket case. F*** fireworks and inconsiderate neighbors.”
Others echoed those concerns, pointing out the very real fire risks in California during the dry season. While they didn’t condone the woman’s aggressive behavior, they said it made sense that someone might be upset. “She’d have been justified in just calling the non-emergency police line to report it, in my opinion,” one user remarked.
