“Karens have gentrified lean”: Why is an eyewear brand on Instagram suggesting moms drink cough syrup?

An eyewear brand introducing “summer moms” to lean just gentrified the recreational drug. 

Eyewear brand Night Shift Glasses shared an Instagram post on May 5 that featured Sprite, cough syrup, and Jolly Ranchers—aka “lean”—to demo an ice cube tray that doubles as a flask.

@OhThatsAT/X

The video's caption says, “Every summer, mom needs one of these.” As a result, people on X are saying, “Karens have gentrified lean.”

Lean originated in Houston among blues musicians in the 1960s.