Are you a Karen? We're talking people who are named Karen, not those with a propensity for berating store employees and demanding to speak to the manager.
East Vancouver's Laughing Bean Coffee is hoping to give Karens a break by rewarding them with free coffee, and the offer extends to anyone named Kevin, too.
The coffee shop, which has been brewing up beverages, a chill hangout space, and a sense of humour since 2003, is hosting a "Karen and Kevin Day' on Monday, March 11. The cafe is located at 2695 E Hastings St and is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays.
"Laughing Bean Coffee feels that the real Karens and Kevins of the world have suffered enough at the hands of obnoxious, internet Karens and Kevins," explains Wayne Bertrand from Laughing Bean Coffee in an email.
"We wanna let the real Karens and Kevins know that not everyone has a hate-on for you."
Accordingly, anyone who is named Karen or Kevin can head to the cafe on the 11th, present some ID, and enjoy a cup of coffee on the house.
“We noticed an unusual number of customers coming in and still looking sad, even after getting a cup of the best coffee on the block” said Bertrand, who added that if the cup of coffee wasn't enough, Karens and Kevins could also ask for a hug.
'We hope that we can make your day just a little bit brighter'
It's pretty clear the Laughing Bean has a strong sense of humour along with its brews. One of their bean blends is dubbed “Wake The F*ck Up” and the cafe's slogan is "Life is short, stay awake for it."
In turn, the Karens and Kevins free coffee bit is an attempt at spreading some smiles and cheer.
"We know it won’t completely make up for the emotional stress of having to suffer the unjust, internet ridicule, but we hope that we can make your day just a little
bit brighter."
Why "Kevin"? A commenter on the Laughing Bean Facebook page observed that "Kyle" is often the name of choice when describing a male "Karen."
"There’s really no consensus on what the male version is so we went with Kevin. Heck, if a Kyle comes in, we’ll give him a coffee too!" responded a rep for Laughing Bean Coffee.
Who won't get any free coffee?
"Laughing Bean Coffee will not be offering free coffee to those who come in and act like internet Karens and Kevins," points out the cafe in a "legal disclaimer."
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