The internet has a special place for moments of pure absurdity, and one of its most iconic showcases came from a hotel lobby in Honolulu, where a woman lost it over something that didn’t even involve her. This is a “Karen moment” of bigotry, entitlement, and misdirected rage. The woman in question, quickly dubbed “TERF Karen,” made headlines after she threw a wild tantrum over a group of drag queens, sparking an uproar that is once again doing the rounds on Reddit.
The incident unfolded at the Alohilani Resort in Honolulu, during a video shoot for an upcoming pageant. Beth Bourne, a far-right activist and leader of the Moms for Liberty chapter in Yolo County, California, walked into the lobby on a Sunday morning, already upset by the sight of the drag performers. She assumed that one of them, a queen in full glam, was a transgender woman, prompting her to go off in a tirade against the group, who were quietly going about their business.
Bourne’s meltdown, captured in a now-viral video, was a bizarre mix of poorly constructed arguments and a lot of illogical fear. With her voice ringing out through the hotel, she complained about “boys” who might “think they can become women” simply because they enjoy makeup or drag. The absurdity escalated as she baselessly claimed, “We have boys that are having their penises cut off because they think they can become women.”
While Bourne’s accusations were unfounded, the drag queens involved—particularly one performer named Marina, who had been working as hotel staff for the shoot—responded with grace. Marina calmly pointed out the inconsistency in Bourne’s argument by noting, “You’re wearing shorts and a tank top,” in contrast to the “effeminate” behavior Bourne was so upset about.
Unperturbed by Bourne’s increasingly shrill rants, the group continued their filming, while hotel staff moved to defuse the situation. At one point, Bourne demanded a refund, citing her $3,000 payment for the stay. However, her behavior was so outrageous that it prompted police intervention. She ended up being escorted off the premise.
In the months following the incident, public reaction was swift and unforgiving. Bourne’s professional affiliation with the University of California, Davis—and her position as an outspoken critic of transgender rights—only deepened the controversy. The university distanced itself from her actions, expressing strong disapproval of her statements. Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green also chimed in, denouncing Bourne’s behavior as “unacceptable” and reinforcing Hawaii’s commitment to respecting diversity and inclusion.
Despite the drama, the drag queens involved handled the situation with incredible poise. Marina, speaking to The Advocate, reflected on the broader meaning of the incident. “This reminds us why we have Pride in the first place,” she said. After all, no amount of hate can overshadow the joy and resilience that the LGBTQ+ community embodies.
Redditors, naturally, had plenty to say about the spectacle. Many praised Marina for maintaining composure, with one user quipping, “Thanks to the queen for showing who’s a lady and who’s just trash.” Others couldn’t help but laugh at the sheer absurdity of Bourne’s meltdown. “Imagine ruining your entire vacation over someone who doesn’t even care that you exist,” one user pointed out.
At the end of the day, while this viral moment will forever live on as an example of a Karen meltdown, it’s also a story of how a group of performers managed to turn a toxic situation into a public lesson in resilience and dignity.
So here’s to the drag queens, the calm in the storm of Karen’s vitriol. Maybe, just maybe, we could all learn a thing or two from them here. After all, life’s too short to rage about sequins.
