The Phoenix Karen meme originates from a series of viral videos recorded in Phoenix, Arizona, featuring women engaged in high-stress public outbursts or displays of perceived entitlement. These incidents, often occurring in grocery stores or airports, became symbolic of the broader 'Karen' cultural phenomenon where individuals demand superior treatment or escalate minor inconveniences into public spectacles. The meme template is widely used to satirize entitlement, unreasonable customer demands, and the 'I want to speak to the manager' trope. It serves as a digital shorthand for highlighting social friction and the absurdity of public meltdowns in the age of smartphone recordings.