MILLBURN, NEW JERSEY: Abigail Elphick, a woman who was branded "Victoria's Secret Karen" in 2021 after a video of her arguing with a black woman named Ijeoma Ukenta went viral online, reportedly lives in a facility designed for individuals with intellectual and developmental challenges, CooPWB reported.
A recent civil case court filing obtained by the Daily Mail revealed that Elphick is allegedly disabled and has a long history of medical and psychological conditions.
Back in July, nearly two years after the incident, Ukenta filed a civil suit against Elphick, the mall where the fight took place and its security company, as well as Victoria’s Secret itself, on accusations of negligence.
More recently, Elphick's defense claimed that her mental illness trigged the epic meltdown because she was worried the video would go viral and she would end up losing her job and housing.
What happened between Ijeoma Ukenta and 'Victoria's Secret Karen' Abigail Elphick?
The viral incident between Ukenta and Elphick took place inside the Short Hills Mall in Millburn, New Jersey, in 2021.
At the time, Ukenta was reportedly trying to redeem a coupon for free panties at a Victoria's Secret store when Elphick allegedly attacked her before having a major breakdown, which saw her screaming and rolling on the floor.
According to the Daily Mail, at the time Ukenta reportedly asked Elphick to provide her some space in order to follow Covid-19 restrictions.
However, the situation took a bizzare turn when Elphick slapped Ukenta as they stood near the registers at the store.
Shortly after, Elphick threw the shirt she was holding onto at the counter and buried her face into her hands.
The entire incident was posted by Ukenta in a series of videos that went viral online, prompting people to dub Elphick as "Victoria's Secret Karen".
Ukenta even shared a video of her filing a police report which allegedly revealed Elphick's information.
In the first video posted on YouTube, Ukenta could be heard saying, "Oh my God!" as Elphick squatted on the ground.
"Do you see this? Oh my God, girl I've never thought something like this would happen to me. She's just tried to run and hit me," Ukenta said in the clip.
"No, I didn't! I don't want to be recorded," Elphick cried out in response.
"You saw that, right? They all saw her, oh my God," Ukenta continued before Elphick said, "I didn't try to hit you. I don't want to be recorded. Stop, stop! I didn't try to hit you!"
Elphick could then be seen collapsing on the floor face first while using her purse as a pillow as store workers continued to check out other customers in the background.
The first video came to an end with a store worker helping Ukenta while she said, "Bye, Karen" while addressing Elphick.
In a second clip, Elphick could be seen lying on the ground and pointing her finger towards Ukenta while shuddering on the ground and screaming, "She's recording me!"
Ukenta could then be heard saying, "You keep lying and saying I'm threatening you, so I'm recording to protect myself."
At one point, another woman could be seen trying to help Elphick calm down as she spoke to someone on the phone claiming Ukenta was "threatening" her.
"This is how black people be dying. You see this? You see what these people do? They're causing a panic and telling the police [unintelligible] when you clearly saw her chasing me around the store," Ukenta could then be heard saying.
Shortly after, the other could be heard telling Ukenta to put the camera because Elphick is "sick."
"She's lying on the phone, don't tell me what to do. She said I threatened her. I don't give a f**k about her being sick. I'm worried about me," Ukenta retorted as heard in the clip.
In a third video shared by Ukenta, mall security could finally be seen appearing on the venue where the incident took place. The former could then be seen detailing the situation to the security officer, who was reportedly "oblivious" of the issue.
A fourth video showed cops arriving at the store before telling Ukenta they couldn't "kick her out," referring to Elphick, despite her on-camera attack on Ukenta.
What did Ijeoma Ukenta say in her lawsuit against Abigail Elphick?
In a civil lawsuit filed in July against Elphick, Victoria’s Secret, the Short Hills Mall and its security company, Ukenta said Victoria's Secret ignored the situation despite knowing she was assaulted by Elphick.
She also claimed that when security workers finally arrived at the venue they ignored her request to remove Elphick and failed to provide Ukenta any assistance or protection.
"They were extremely dismissive toward her and were indifferent and nonchalant about her concerns for her safety," the lawsuit claimed.
"Although she was the victim, Plaintiff was humiliated further by mall security, her concerns were ignored, and she was the one asked to leave the mall," it added.
In her lawsuit, Ukenta claimed that she started recording the incident in order to protect herself as she was "keenly aware that if the police were called, she, a Black woman, may not be believed and could be deemed the aggressor."
Abigail Elphick's defense claims she is a 'disabled individual'
In response to Ukenta's lawsuit, Elphick's defense claimed that she is a "disabled individual" and that her mental illness allegedly trigged the 2021 breakdown in the Victoria's Secret store.
Elphick's attorney also claimed that Ukenta's police filing video which reveals the former's information has led to her receiving numerous harassing calls, including threats against her and her family.
Elphick also alleged that she received death threats on the phone in April. Her lawyers have even argued that Ukenta used the situation as an opportunity to make money off a disabled woman.
"Utilizing Elphick, a disabled individual, Ukenta promoted a false narrative that deceived the public into donating to help Ukenta supposedly defend herself from charges that at that time had not even been filed against Ukenta," the defense claimed.
The claim was reportedly made in reference to Ukenta's GoFundMe where she received an approximate of $104,465 from around 5,000 individuals, the Daily Mail reported.
However, some people also sympathized with Elphick due to the alleged status of her mental health.
"I was horrified. She had a meltdown. Then the world we live in took over and it became something entirely different than what it actually was," Tom Toronto, president of Bergen County’s United Way, which runs the residential complex where Elphick allegedly lives told the New York Times.
