BBQ Becky: Woman Photoshopped into black history after barbecue complaint

Michelle Dione/YouTube The woman who has become known as 'BBQ Becky'Michelle Dione/YouTube

A video of a white woman calling the police about a black family's BBQ has turned into a meme called "BBQ Becky".

The original video, posted on YouTube, shows a confrontation over a barbecue in a park in California.

The woman has been accused of being racist, but insisted that having a charcoal grill in the park is illegal and that's why she was complaining.

She has now been Photoshopped into black history moments including Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech.

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Presentational white space

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Presentational white space

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Presentational white space

Black Panther even made an appearance.

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Presentational white space

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

How it started

The original video was filmed in Oakland, California and was posted on 29 April.

The woman phoning the police is seen and heard insisting that having a charcoal grill in that area of the park is illegal.

[Warning: Link contains strong language that you may find offensive]

Allow Google YouTube content?

This article contains content provided by Google YouTube. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

But the woman filming the video disagrees: "No, it's not actually. I just checked the map. It says this is a designated barbeque area."

She also questions if the issue is about race: "Are you sure it's not because you don't want black people being out here?"

The woman calling the police, still with her phone to her ear, says "it has nothing to do with their race".

She claims: "It causes extra money from our city to do things when children get injured because of improperly disposed coals."

The video continues and the situation gets more heated.

The woman who complains to the police is seen sobbing when the police arrive.

We also hear from the BBQ-owner who says: "I was minding my own business, I've been here for 42 years".

"I know where I can and cannot barbeque at."

The police can be seen talking to both parties at the end of the 25-minute video.

Since hitting the internet, the video has given way to many memes as well as igniting conversations about racism on Twitter.

Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here.