Bunnings ‘Karen’ lashed on social media for not wearing mask, harassing staff

A woman who flat-out refused to wear a mask in Bunnings has been universally slammed for her altercation with staff - and was even briefly arrested for the fight.

A woman who refused to wear a mask in Bunnings, and was later briefly arrested for the altercation, hasn’t just been slammed around Australia, she’s also garnering attention globally.

The Melbourne woman filmed posted footage of her trying to enter Bunnings without a mask, which is against store policy, to a private conspiracy group.

However the footage was later posted on Twitter and has since gone viral.

Wait til this Karen finds out about 'no shoes, no shirt, no service'. pic.twitter.com/2dvLE90dOa

— cam smith (@sexenheimer) July 25, 2020

Gonna get very interesting when the counter-lawsuits start & #bunnings employees start suing these un-masked lone rangers. Poor staff just trying to do their jobs.The selfishness is gobsmacking. Honestly, beyond minor inconvenience what’s the prob with wearing a mask? 🙄 https://t.co/x8P9cVo9Qn

— Magda Szubanski AO (@MagdaSzubanski) July 26, 2020

Just heading up to Bunnings to get into an argument about constitutional law with an assistant from the tool shop.

— Pandemic Pete Evans (@peteevansnot) July 26, 2020

The Bunnings staff who dealt with the woman were also showered in praise with the CEO of Wesfarmers, the company that owns the hardware giant, even giving them a shout out.

They did a brilliant job you should be really proud of them, and their grace under pressure.

— Lucy Turnbull AO (@LucyTurnbull_AO) July 26, 2020

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews earlier took aim at the “selfish” people who refuse to follow the new rules around masks as the state recorded its deadliest day on Sunday with 10 deaths.

“If those directions are not followed, police are able to fine you. It is a $200 fine. It should never come to that,” Mr Andrews said.

“If it was a genuine error, a sense of any confusion – police use good judgement. But if you are just making a selfish choice that your alleged personal liberty, quoting something you‘ve read on some website – this is not about human rights.

“There are 10 families that are going to be burying someone in the next few days. Wear a mask! It‘s not too much to ask.”

Here are just some of the millions of face masks being made in Victoria.

We've placed an order for over two million reusable masks, and another three million single use masks too.

These masks are helping create jobs, keep businesses running, and support local manufacturing. pic.twitter.com/SravHpNPbx

— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) July 24, 2020

Dozens of people were fined over the weekend for not wearing masks in Victoria including a man and a woman out in Ferntree Gully on Saturday.

The pair, who were with two children, were approached by police near the 1000 Steps Kokoda Memorial Walk at about 2pm and asked why they weren‘t wearing face coverings.

“The 47-year-old man and 51-year-old woman, both from Ferntree Gully, refused to give police their details,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

“After multiple requests the two were both arrested and will be issued with $200 fines for failing to wear a face covering .

“Whilst police will use discretion in the first seven days since the CHO direction was issued, we will not hesitate to issue fines to people who are obviously and blatantly showing a disregard for community safety by failing to wear a mask.”