AMY COOPER went viral after shocking footage was posted online of her threatening to tell cops that an African American man threatened her life.
As a result of the viral video, she lost her job at Franklin Templeton, and now many want to know why.
Why was Amy Cooper fired from Franklin Templeton?
After the footage of Amy in Central Park went viral on May 26, 2020, the company that she worked for, Franklin Templeton, placed her on administrative leave.
At the time she was head of insurance investment solutions.
It was then decided later that day that the global investment firm would terminate Amy's employment.
The company tweeted: "Following our internal review of the incident in Central Park yesterday, we have made the decision to terminate the employee involved, effective immediately.
"We do not tolerate racism of any kind at Franklin Templeton."
Amy then faced legal action and filed a lawsuit against her former employer in May of 2021, accusing the company of not doing an investigation before her termination because of her race and gender.
She alleged that Franklin Templeton “nurtured" the idea of the confrontation as “a racial flashpoint, characterized as a privileged white female ‘Karen' caught on video verbally abusing an African American male with no possible reason other than the color of his skin."
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Amy alleged in the lawsuit it wasn't racism that led her to call police but fear, because she was alone and being “aggressively" confronted.
She also accused the company of discrimination, saying an investigation would have been done if she were not a white woman.
At the time, Franklin Templeton denied the allegations, stating that the "circumstances of the situation speak for themselves" and that they would "defend against these baseless claims."
In September 2022, US District Judge Ronnie Abrams dismissed the claims, stating that the company never referenced her race, but made "condemnations of racism," according to NPR.
What did Christian Cooper say to Amy Cooper?
The man recording the footage, Christian Cooper, had asked her to put her cocker spaniel on a leash.
According to Christian, an avid birder, having a dog on a leash is required by law in The Ramble area of the park, which is a protected wildlife area.
After she refused his request, a verbal confrontation quickly ensured and Christian began to film the encounter as she walked towards him.
"Please stop, sir I'm asking you to stop recording me," she demands in the nearly minute-long video.
"I'm going to tell [the police] there's an African-American man threatening my life," Amy added.
Christian responds: "Please, tell them whatever you like."
Amy is then seen backing away from the man as she makes good on her threat to call 911, telling the dispatcher: "There's a man, an African-American, he's recording and threatening me and my dog."
She then raises her tone while on the phone with police as she pleads for help to be sent as soon as possible.
What are New York's Central Park rules on dogs?
According to the Central Park website, dog owners must follow the rules as outlined by NYC Parks.
Dogs are prohibited from certain locations in the park including all playgrounds, the Great Lawn Oval and the Hallett Nature Sanctuary.
The site also states that dogs should always be leashed in parts of the park including The Ramble.
Dogs are only allowed off their leash between the hours of 6am and 9am and 1pm to 1am.
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