Miya Ponsetto, who was dreaming of becoming a famous actress, has hit stardom with the unflattering nickname “SoHo Karen,” after an incident dubbed racist at the Arlo SoHo boutique hotel in New York.
The day after Christmas, Miya Ponsetto was reportedly caught on camera assaulting Keyon Harrold Jr., 14, over a phone, that she claimed was stolen.
In the viral Instagram and Facebook video posted by trumpeter Keyon Harrold, “SoHo Karen” could be seen frantically screaming and fighting with the teenager.
The musician did his best to protect his child while staff members sided with the angry female.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the NYPD have yet to speak or charge the woman with any crime, but activists and the teenager’s parents demanded that action be taken.
Meanwhile, Ponsetto was caught on video leaving a McDonald’s near her mother’s home in Piru, California.
When a paparazzo tried to ask her about the incident, she defended herself by saying that she is from Puerto Rico, (hinting that she cannot possibly be racist), and added: “I don’t know what the problem is here. I’m good, thank you. Have a very good day. Take care of yourself. I’m actually 22, so I don’t know what the problem is here. And I’m also Puerto Rican so thank you. Take care of yourself.”
Oddly enough, on her AskFM account, she identifies as “Italian, Puerto Rican, Greek and Vietnamese.” While on the website Explore Talent, she claimed to be only Caucasian.
In a brief interview with CNN, the woman was asked to share her thoughts on the false accusation against Keyon Harrold Jr. and her imminent arrest, and she said this: “Of course, I worry. That’s not who I am. I actually … try very hard to make sure that I am always doing the right thing.”
It has been confirmed that Ponsetto was arrested twice in the past by the Beverly Hills Police Department for public intoxication and DUI, and she now faces assault, grand larceny, and attempted robbery charges.
Keyon’s mother, Kat Rodriguez, had the following to say about what happened to her child: “Today Dec 26th, 2020, my 14-year-old son @jrkeyonharrold was racially profiled at the Arlo Hotel in Soho, NY around 2:45 pm, falsely accused and assaulted by a random white woman that thought he stole her phone even though she lost her phone in an Uber(found this detail out later). All the hotel has said so far is “I’m sorry this happened” WTF, really ?!? I expect this from the Karen’s in Amerikka but not from hospitality professionals!!!!! Your job is to be hospitable to all! The hotel manager decides to exploit his authority as the manager, and said: “show me your phone,” and my son was about to show him his phone. Still, my son’s father @keyonharrold said, “no, son,” and the manager then says, “I’m the manager of the hotel” before asking my son’s side of the story is NOT OK.”
The emotional mother went on to explain: “Aren’t we suppose to be innocent until proven guilty? Why was my son asked to show his phone? By asking my son to show him the phone, he is accusing my son without any proof. My son and his father wanted to walk away from this ugly scene. However, the lady that had checked out on Dec 23rd (3days prior) proceeds to charge at my son to take the phone by force out of his hands, and my son’s father pushes her away in self-defense (she left a scratch on my son’s father).”
She concluded by: “Where was the security guard in all this, JUST WATCHING!!!! He didn’t apprehend her, and he let her leave while the police were being called. Who were the victims here? Why wasn’t she asked to stay after assaulting a guest on their property??? I’m so furious and not OK, right now! Because of privacy laws, they will not share this lady’s name who has emotionally scarred my son. We DEMAND justice! An apology from this lady, an apology from the hotel on behalf of the manager and security guard, and how they will work towards this is not happening again in their establishment. “I’m sorry this happened,” ain’t gonna cut it.”
Critics say that Ponsetto is not doing enough to fix the situation.
