South Africans Mock White 'Refugees' in Viral TikToks: 'Farewell to the Afri-Karens'

A wave of viral TikToks has erupted in South Africa, mocking white Afrikaners leaving the country under U.S. "refugee" claims, with users sarcastically bidding them farewell as "Afri-Karens" and questioning the legitimacy of their persecution.

Tensions escalated after the Trump administration granted refugee status to at least 49 white South Africans, primarily Afrikaners, citing claims of racial violence and land seizures — allegations South African officials and analysts say are exaggerated or outright false.

In response, social media users back home have taken a sharply satirical tone. TikTok videos showing dramatic fake goodbyes and lampooning exaggerated refugee narratives have gone viral, with users deriding the idea that wealthy white farmers are fleeing genocide.

In one viral clip, creator Anton Taylor plays a South African refugee being greeted by American officials, mocking the kinds of struggle they've had to endure. "We haven't been able to go to the beach on New Year's for over a decade!" he exclaimed while wearing a MAGA hat.

Videos like Taylor's prompted laughter from users online. "Farewell to the Afri-Karens," one user jabbed. "This is too accurate," another user commented.

Another TikTok features creator Leah Jazz putting on "bulletproof armor"—which was actually just a leather harness—to fight the mosquitoes "colonizing" her bedroom. She also joked that "we all know why" her white cat would not be able to get into a university.

Meanwhile, other users shared videos of white people in South Africa having fun and dancing, and getting along with Black South Africans. The users commented sarcastically that the videos showed "terrible things" happening in the country.

Many Afrikaners have denied the claims of systemic persecution, even at agricultural fairs where safety concerns are real, asserting their desire to stay in South Africa, PBS reported.

The refugee designation has sparked debates over asylum fairness, especially as many global applicants endure years-long backlogs. It also risks straining U.S.–South Africa relations just as both governments attempt to clarify positions on land reform, farm safety, and racial equity.