A California woman, who gained notoriety online as the "racist Karen" after a viral video showed her confronting a father of color, has been identified as Lindsay Hansen, a 47-year-old San Jose resident. Hansen is now accused of entering a girls' locker room at a San Jose Unified school and making accusations against PE teachers.
San Jose Unified confirmed the incident in a communication to the community, stating that the school district has filed a police report and is cooperating with the San Jose Police Department. Authorities have indicated that social media posts show an adult female, not affiliated with the school, accessing the locker room.
Hansen first drew public attention through a video where she accused a father of sex trafficking his daughter, solely because their skin tones differed. In the footage, she claimed to be working with federal authorities. The father, who posted the video, stated that he and his 6-year-old daughter, who is half-white, were repeatedly harassed by Hansen in their neighborhood.
In her own social media posts, Hansen has acknowledged the viral video and her online presence. She has described herself as a "worldwide celebrity" and indicated that she would investigate anyone who commented negatively on her pages, claiming they were likely guilty of crimes themselves. Her online content includes theories about the Epstein files, antisemitic tropes, and the belief that the birth of her child in 2020 marked the beginning of the "end times."
Court documents filed in May 2022 by psychiatrist Dr. Shellie Kahane indicate that Hansen has shown symptoms of bipolar disorder with psychotic features, including delusions, auditory hallucinations, and paranoia. The documents state that Hansen had been placed on a 5250 hold, a temporary psychiatric commitment, and did not believe she required medication. Dr. Kahane noted Hansen's stated intention to "drive around and ID pedophiles."
The vehicle involved in the initial viral confrontation, a Honda, is registered to Lindsay Hansen. In that incident, Hansen was heard through her car window claiming to work with the feds and questioning the father's immigration status while recording him and his daughter. The father reported the encounter to the San Jose Police Department, which confirmed an active investigation into the locker room incident.
Hansen has also been accused of harassing community members by recording and photographing them, then posting the content on social media. Authorities stated they are working closely with the San Jose Police Department on the ongoing investigation.