A confrontation between an elderly man and a group of young women on a California hiking trail has turned into one of the internet’s latest “Male Karen” debates.
A viral TikTok video showed one of the women spraying the man with bear spray after alleging the group felt threatened by his behavior.
While some viewers believed the women acted in self-defense, others argued the man was already walking away when he was sprayed.
Highlights
- A TikTok video showed a woman using bear spray during a confrontation with an elderly man on a California hiking trail.
- The women said they acted in self-defense, while critics argued the man appeared to be walking away when he was sprayed.
- Police received reports about the incident, but authorities have not publicly announced any findings.
"He is obviously Karen, but he was walking away, and she a*saulted that man," one commenter wrote.
A male Karen has gone viral over an argument with a group of women
Image credits: mushy.gooms/TikTok
According to one of the women, she and five friends were hiking to celebrate a birthday when the elderly man confronted them about where they had parked their car.
She claimed there were no visible “No Parking” signs and that other vehicles were parked in the same area.
The woman said the man criticized the group, spoke aggressively, and continued confronting them even after they told him they were leaving.
The viral video began after the argument had already started.
Image credits: mushy.gooms/TikTok
Image credits: Cason4k_
Image credits: fjnl_fashion
Image credits: mushy.gooms/TikTok
In the footage, the man, wearing a backpack and holding what appeared to be a fishing rod, walks toward one of the women while pointing the rod in her direction.
Believing another friend was about to be confronted, one woman grabbed the bear spray she had brought for wildlife protection and sprayed him.
The man immediately backed away from the spray, briefly moved forward again, then retreated.
Image credits: mushy.gooms/TikTok
In a follow-up TikTok, one of the women said the group carried bear spray because they planned to hike in an area where wild animals could be present.
She also claimed that the man repeatedly intruded into their personal space during the confrontation.
According to her, the encounter did not end after they left.
She alleged that the man followed their vehicle and threw objects at it as they drove away.
The group later filed a police report, adding they believed they had acted in self-defense.
She also claimed the man later gave police a different version of events.
Authorities have not publicly announced any findings about the incident.
Image credits: darthornock
The TikTok video quickly went viral online as several viewers debated
Image credits: briansxmemes
The video quickly filled with thousands of comments from people taking opposite sides.
"That is a straight up a*sault. He wasn't even walking towards that girl. I hope he presses charges and we get to see her cry in a booking photo," one person wrote.
A former police officer shared a similar opinion.
"As a now former police officer, she can be charged with a*sault, and depending on how old he is, those charges could go up if it's an a*sault on a senior. Was he childish, absolutely, but he was also absolutely walking away from the situation."
Image credits: mushy.gooms/TikTok
Another commenter wrote, "He wasn't an angel, but he did start to walk away, and she then decided to attack with a weapon."
However, others felt differently.
"These young women told him to walk away multiple times, but he refused to listen. They stood their ground and used pepper spray to protect themselves after he ignored their repeated demands," one viewer argued.
Another added, "All of you are m*rons. He was aggressively walking towards another person off camera. She did good, and he'll learn from this."
Image credits: mushy.gooms/TikTok
Image credits: gene_the_cook
Image credits: jenkinsmasonry
The hiking trail is just one of the several recent incidents that have been labeled “male Karen” moments
Image credits: mushy.gooms/TikTok
In June 2026, father Tyler Brodsky went viral after another man confronted him for taking his two young daughters into a women’s restroom at an Alabama gas station.
As reported by Bored Panda, Brodsky explained that the women’s restroom was empty and that he felt it was safer than taking his daughters into a men’s restroom.
The confrontation was captured on video after the man called police.
Officers later arrived, de-escalated the situation, and allowed Brodsky to continue his trip.
The incident sparked another online debate, but the fallout extended beyond social media.
According to People, the man who confronted Brodsky was later fired by the Mississippi real estate company where he worked.
The father later launched a petition calling for more family restrooms in public places so parents would not have to make similar decisions in the future.
The clip showed a young man refusing to move aside from an 8-year-old woman who was trying to get past him on a staircase.
When the woman told him her age, he replied, “Ok. So?”
"Both are wrong", while some users approve of the girls' reaction, others are not so convinced
Image credits: TatorTrucking
Image credits: metalarmy6664
Image credits: KhamisiFox
Image credits: GinaLodabricks2
Image credits: AncapTruth11
Image credits: DanielRigg17179
Image credits: CliffordCu51991
Image credits: meecha80
Image credits: SFWsalesgirl
Image credits: Stack_Goblin
Image credits: GamsCarl50363
Image credits: Christo08749060