It’s not uncommon to see people try to cut lines at amusement parks. Sometimes they get away with it, and other times, fellow visitors aren’t afraid to speak up. That’s exactly what happened at Dollywood, where guests were left stunned by what many described as real-life “Tennessee Karens.”
According to those in line, a family attempted to cut by having one person hold their place, then suddenly adding seven more people to an already crowded line. When other visitors called them out and pointed out that it wasn’t fair, the situation quickly escalated.
Instead of backing down or apologizing, the group began yelling at anyone who confronted them, turning what should have been a fun day at the park into an uncomfortable and chaotic scene.
The woman filming tried to calmly reason with the group, telling them she didn’t want anyone yelling. One of the women ignored her completely and continued shouting as she waved the rest of her family under the ropes and into the line.
Another person in line spoke up, pointing out that no one had seen the rest of the family there earlier. A man in the crowd also expressed disbelief, saying it was ridiculous for seven people to jump the line. The women responded by flat-out denying that they were cutting at all.
Despite clearly being in the wrong, one of the women had the nerve to tell those confronting them that karma would get them. That was when the person filming revealed that the two women had also put their hands on other guests. Even then, Dollywood staff reportedly failed to intervene.
It wasn’t until guests contacted local police that the women were finally removed from the park. The entire situation left people stunned, especially given that the behavior happened in front of children, by adults who were supposed to be setting an example.
People Reacting to the Tennessee Karens at Dollywood
Many viewers criticized the behavior of the two women and their family, saying it showed a complete lack of respect for others. Because the incident took place in Tennessee, some comments veered into harsh generalizations. One person wrote, “Rednecks will be the downfall of the USA,” a remark that sparked its own backlash.
Others focused on smaller details from the video. One commenter mocked one of the women’s appearances, saying, “The pajamas in public told me everything I needed to know.”
Several people also speculated about what the family may have been trying to do. “They were probably on another ride and had someone holding their place, and that’s still wrong,” one person wrote. Another TikTok user agreed, replying, “Exactly what they were doing. And think about the people who paid $70 for a fast pass. These people basically created their own.”
Overall, many felt the incident highlighted how unfair line-cutting is, especially in a park where others spend significant money to follow the rules.
More people shared their frustration over the behavior of the Tennessee women, with some noting that incidents like this aren’t uncommon at Dollywood. One woman wrote, “My son and his friends work there, and people have been awful this holiday season. He was cussed out for five minutes by a grown man because the lines were long. A 17-year-old has no control over crowd sizes. I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”
Others expressed disappointment that adults would behave this way in a family-oriented environment, especially toward staff and other guests. Some comments, however, took the discussion in a political direction. One person wrote, “The only shocking thing about this video is the lack of MAGA shirts and hats.” Another replied, “Isn’t it crazy how you can tell just by someone’s behavior who they support?”
While many people were clearly upset by what happened, others pushed back against making assumptions or attaching labels based solely on appearance or behavior. Regardless, most agreed that the family’s actions were unacceptable and that basic respect and patience should be expected in public spaces.
