
Elon Musk is now dubbed “Space Karen”: Inside the latest meme
Karens are just really something, huh? Is it an insult? Is it a slur? Or is just a term for someone that is the worst and most entitled person you know? Either way, Elon Musk is one now. How did he get called a Space Karen on Twitter, sparking a brand new meme that we’re all thriving with currently? Why did this happen? And who is the hero that did the deed?
Here are the basic facts that you need to know. On Nov. 13, 2020, Elon Musk shared a tweet talking about COVID-19 testing. Now, Musk has been accused of criticizing the test for COVID-19 without really understanding what’s going on. In response to Musk’s tweet, @emmabell42 wrote the following:
Rapid antigen tests trade sensitivity for speed. They return a result in <30 minutes, but can only detect COVID-19 when you're absolutely riddled with it. What's bogus is that Space Karen didn't read up on the test before complaining to his millions of followers. pic.twitter.com/a1Snfpm03h
— Emma Bell PhD (@emmabell42) November 14, 2020
@emmabell42 actually did a really great thread after the first tweet explaining why Musk’s results came back the way they did, amongst other things. Either way, a new nickname and meme for Elon Musk was born, calling him Space Karen. It even spun off and turned on Donald Trump – people called him White House Karen.
We’re surrounded by Karens, people. It’s a terrible thing. What’s not a terrible thing, however, is all the great memes that have arisen from it. So now that you know the story, let’s share some of the best Elon Musk memes that have taken Space Karen and run with it.
For those of you opening up Twitter this morning, I just want to remind all of you that Elon Musk's new nickname is Space Karen. pic.twitter.com/DaJbgYnkkd
— CPAP Machines are Not Ventilators Space Karen (@vipertrades) November 17, 2020
1. Obligatory Karen haircut time
That’s right. A truly amazing soul did the thing and Photoshopped the Karen haircut onto Musk’s head. Frankly, you can’t tell the difference, can you?
My one issue with calling El*n M*sk “Space Karen” is, what are we supposed to call Cora then pic.twitter.com/RBA00KINkQ
— Kris Ligman (@KrisLigman) November 17, 2020
2. Oh boy, they’re multiplying
It’s time to workshop a nickname for the character in space with the Karen haircut that’s not Space Karen. Maybe Galactic Karen? Moon Karen? Are we starting to make a Sailor Moon situation, but with Karens? What kind of world are we even living in?
That Elon Musk, whose behavior is very white entitled South African, is now known as #SpaceKaren on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/hGhBXGtBjp
— Africa Is a Country (@africasacountry) November 16, 2020
3. People are living for it
Elon Musk is definitely one of the more reviled men on the internet, so people are definitely having a great time with this meme.
How it started. How it's going.@elonmusk #SpaceKaren$TSLA $TSLAQ pic.twitter.com/Mjb0Kpuz41
— passthebeano (@passthebeano) November 16, 2020
4. You win at meme-ing bro
Oh boy. Everyone was calling Musk the real life Tony Stark or whatever. Didn’t he appear on The Simpsons’ once? And now he is Space Karen. It’s been a year, but this person has won that particular meme though. Good job!
Because my friend is famous for calling Elon Musk #SpaceKaren, you should also check out their blog on why Elon doesn’t know basic molecular biology and how rapid testing for #COVID19 actually works! https://t.co/y7FUpHSkJP
— Samantha L Wilson, PhD (@SamanthaLWilson) November 16, 2020
5. Recommended reading
One of the Space Karen originator’s friends has recommended us some reading, people! Definitely want to check that out later to get facts rather than whatever Space Karen is doing on his Twitter. You always have to love a good fact check.
Of all the great memes that have trended on the internet, it will take a lot to beat this one.#SpaceKaren pic.twitter.com/xEv2F7l0qe
— pootz (@pootz8) November 17, 2020
6. November 2020 has been great
From the entire internet losing their minds over Destiel two weeks ago to Space Karen, November is actually looking like the best month of 2020 so far. So, you know, way to not ruin things, November. You’re picking up the slack and you should be saluted for it, you abstract concept of time!