On What Karofsky's REALLY Done OR The Rap Sheet of a Glee Villain
UPDATES
12/1/2010 -- Added information for Special Education
12/8/2010 -- Added information for A Very Glee Christmas
[SPOILERS UP TO A VERY GLEE CHRISTMAS ONLY UNDER THE CUTS]
I think the greatest hurdle Kurtofsky fans face when explaining the whys and hows of the ship to others is that they've got an idea of who David Karofsky is in their heads. To general viewers, he is a douchebag, a creep, a closet-case and your typical jock meathead. To slashers/shippers/hardcore fans, he is even worse, words like murderer, molester and rapist being thrown around given the content of the last few episodes.
But what has Karofsky ACTUALLY done? And if Glee were remotely close to reality, what would be his crimes, in legal terms?
Let's take a look at this episode by episode. We can all assume things happen outside our viewership, sure-- and there's scenes referenced that we will never actually see (e.g. Kurt's announcing to the football team, while in the showers, that he is not playing anymore because he's choosing Glee over football -- Mash-Up)-- but the assumption of what happens outside of canon /isn't/ canon. It's fanon. As is assuming anything else, like characters' mental states. Unless Kurt tells us "he's full of ennui", we can argue otherwise.
So here's Dave's rap sheet, devoid of fanon assumptions or biases for or against him as a character. I so sorry bb Davey, I hope you still love me after this.
This also recounts some of Azimio's acts and lines because in some instances fans seem to blur the lines between the two characters. Understandable, as in first season they trolled the halls as a unit, but they are still distinct characters.
SEASON 1
MASH-UP
Karofsky goes down the hallway, slushie in hand, faking out several Gleeks into thinking he's going to peg them.
Karofsky slushies Finn, who responds by grabbing Karofsky by the shoulders and yanking him back to the wall. Karofsky shoves Finn back. Finn shoves him again. Karofsky shoves back. Finn shoves him yet again after Karofsky comments on how Finn's "insperminated the Queen of the Chastity Ball". Finn grabs Karofsky's shirt telling him "you're gonna pay for this, dude". Karofsky responds by knocking Finn's arms back and telling Finn "no I'm not".
Karofsky mocks Finn and Quinn verbally and notes a time in fifth grade when Finn made fun of him. Quinn gets in a few words of her own.
Karofsky slushies Puck as Puck is walking arm in arm down the hallway with Rachel. (Thanks to nb2000 for catching this one I missed in my initial post!)
MATTRESS
Karofsky (with Azimio) hold up Finn against the lockers while his arms are stuck in his shoulder pads. Karofsky and Azimio draw on Finn's face in black marker (unknown whether it is permanent).
Karofsky and Azimio verbally mock Finn together.
Finn shoves Karofsky back with a hearty "Screw you" and Karofsky slaps his arms away. Finn keeps one hand on Karofsky's chest during this exchange to hold him back while his attention is focused on Azimio.
Karofsky makes a squirrel face at Finn?
Karofsky pushes Finn one last time as he walks away, asking Azimio how to spell loser-- since he plans to write it on Finn's forehead. Azimio and Karofsky laugh together about Finn's giant forehead as they leave.
Karofsky defaces the Glee photo in the Thunderclap. This includes changing 'Glee Club' to 'Geek Club', writing 'Losers' and 'No Directions' in the margins around the photo, buck teeth on Finn, boobs and what's either a pair of panties, a skirt and/or a vagina on Kurt, an afro and blacked out tooth or Hitler!stache and goatee on Matt, a beard on Quinn, a pitchfork in Santana's hands and blacking out her eyes, drawing something in Mercedes's hand and on her mouth that I cannot identify for the life of me (ETA: One theory could be that it is a lollipop and therefore a slur about her weight, thanks separatrix!), blacking out Artie's teeth and drawing horns on him, drawing horns on Puck, blacking out Tina's eyes and drawing a beard on her, drawing horns on Rachel and putting a pitchfork in her hand before Xing out her face and then writing 'Lame' with an arrow pointing to her.
HELL-O
Karofsky pegs Rachel in the face with a slushie (along with Azimio, who gets Mercedes, and some other guy who pegs Kurt).
Karofsky mocks Rachel, Kurt and Mercedes verbally.
BAD REPUTATION
Karofsky mocks Sue verbally which should be a star on his record, rather than a strike, for bravery alone.
THEATRICALITY
Karofsky shoves Tina into Kurt (after Azimio shoves Kurt into the lockers).
Karofsky turns around to confront Kurt after Kurt asks if he's been dropped on his head, clarifying that he shouldn't push around a girl. Azimio comments that they can't tell the difference. Karofsky verbally mocks Kurt for "dressing all freaky" and "rubbing it in everyone's faces". He goes on to say that he "doesn't want to look at it all day" and "it's weird" and "makes his eyes tired". When Kurt persists, Azimio threatens physical violence against him.
Kurt yells after the two of them. Karofsky counters and calls him "fancy".
Karofsky (with Azimio) verbally mock Finn in the boys' bathroom as he is getting his KISS makeup on. He asks Finn if he's wearing makeup, pointing at it and getting his hand smacked away by Finn. Azimio comments that he knew it (being gay) was "contagious" and that since Finn moved in with Kurt he's gotten a "bad case of the gay". Finn says it's something for Glee Club, Karofsky pushes him and says, "Oh then it's definitely not gay, huh?" to which Finn responds by shoving him back and saying "Get out of my way". Azimio makes another remark about Finn's sexuality ("You being a jock and being in this Glee Club doesn't make you versatile: it makes you bisexual"). Karofsky threatens Finn with physical violence, saying "if we've [Karofsky and Azimio] gotta kick your ass to make you understand that--then our schedules are wide open". Azimio tells Finn to get out of the bathroom, that the girls' bathroom is across the hall. Karofsky laughs and leaves with Azimio.
After the KISS performance, Karofsky and Azimio catch Kurt and Tina in the hallway. They back them up against a wall, Karofsky saying that they "warned" the duo and Azimio adding that the "Gagas gotta go". Kurt is later seen gluing rhinestones back onto his shoes, with no bruises on his hands/arms or face/neck (however this doesn't mean he wasn't physically injured). He asks Finn if he could ask Azimio and Karofsky to find a way to harass him that doesn't involve damaging his Lady Gaga outfit.
Azimio pushes Kurt against the wall. Kurt (while crying) then tells them if they want to hit him or beat him up, they can go ahead because he [Kurt] will never change. Azimio says he will do just that and offers Karofsky the first hit. Finn appears to rescue Kurt and Azimio mocks his outfit. Finn says he won't let anyone lay a hand on Kurt and Karofsky replies that he's pretty sure they [Azimio and Karofsky] can take Finn and Kurt in a fight. The rest of the Glee club appears and Azimio mocks them and Finn calling them the "freak hive" and Finn the "queen freak". Karofsky intimates that next time, they'll [Azimio and Karofsky] bring some friends too, before leaving with Azimio.
SEASON 2
AUDITION
Karofsky (with Azimio) double-slushie Kurt while he is having his interview on Jacob's web show. Azimio mocks Kurt by saying "welcome back, lady".
BRITNEY/BRITTANY
Karofsky pushes Finn up against the lockers while Azimio steals Finn's letterman jacket from his open locker. Azimio says it belongs to people who are actually on the team and that they're going to "restyle it to represent the obvious duality in your [Finn's] sexuality". Karofsky and Azimio rip the jacket down the middle. Finn takes a swing at Azimio and misses, hitting the locker-- both Azimio and Karofsky mock him for this and encourage him to fight them. Artie interrupts the fight, Karofsky encourages Azimio to "take" Finn, Azimio points out that Artie is in the way and is concerned about what will happen if he knocks him over. Karofsky notes that there's "something not right about hitting a kid in a wheelchair". Azimio tells Finn the only thing saving him is Azimio's "moral code" and that he doesn't hit "cripple people" but he'll be back.
Azimio tells Rachel (with her new Britney schoolgirl look on) that she can hit him as many times as she wants as long as she's got that on. Karofsky looks at Rachel and asks "How come all the gay guys get the hottest chicks?" in reference to Finn.
DUETS
Karofsky and Azimio double slushie Sam. Azimio says "Welcome to Glee Club, lady lips!" before the two leave the hallway.
THE ROCKY HORROR GLEE SHOW
Karofsky and Azimio follow Finn down the hallway (while he's wearing his Brad costume-- that is, a pair of plain white boxers). Karofsky and Azimio mock him verbally; Karofsky saying, "My grandpa Murray called-- he wants his boxers back." Karofsky and Azimio high five and leave together.
NEVER BEEN KISSED
Karofsky pushes Kurt into the lockers while Kurt is walking down the hallway with Tina.
Karofsky pushes Kurt into the lockers while Kurt's alone. Kurt yells "What is your problem?" to which Karofsky turns around and asks if Kurt is talking back to him. He then asks if Kurt wants "a piece of the Fury"-- when Kurt questions this, Karofsky indicates that is his name for his fist, making the threat one of physical violence. Kurt mocks him for this, Karofsky doesn't get the reference but promises if he finds out Kurt was making fun of him, that the "Fury" will find him. Karofsky shoves Kurt into the lockers one more time as he passes by again.
Karofsky slaps Kurt's phone out of his hands and shoves him into the locker as he walks by. Karofsky walks backwards a few steps, watching Kurt before he turns and leaves the hallway.
Karofsky tells Kurt "the girls' locker room is next door" when Kurt comes into the locker room yelling at him. Kurt asks Karofsky what his problem is and what he's so scared of-- Karofsky responds, "besides you sneaking in here to peek at my junk?" Kurt mocks him for having "every straight guy's nightmare" about how "all us gays are secretly out to molest and convert you." Kurt then says, "Well guess what, hamhock-- you're not my type." To this Karofsky responds with "That right?" and Kurt replies, "Yeah-- I don't dig on chubby boys who sweat too much and are going to be bald by the time they're thirty." Karofsky tells Kurt, "Do not push me, Hummel" while holding his fist up to Kurt's face, threatening physical violence. Kurt asks if Karofsky is going to hit him and dares him to do so-- Karofsky responds by telling Kurt again "Don't push me" while slamming his open locker closed with his other hand. Kurt tells him to go ahead and hit him because it won't change who he [Kurt] is and adds that "you can't punch the gay out of me anymore than I can punch the ignoramus out of you". Karofsky yells at Kurt to get out of his face-- fist no longer clenched as he appears to raise his hand to point at the door. Kurt yells at Karofsky, waving his finger in Karofsky's face and saying he is "nothing but a scared little boy" who can't handle how "extraordinarily ordinary" he is.
Both of Karofsky's hands grab Kurt from either side of his face and he holds him still as he leans in suddenly and kisses him. Karofsky's thumbs are pressed to Kurt's cheeks, his pinkies are hooked just at the back of Kurt's neck and his other fingers are behind Kurt's ear, pressed into the back of his hair. He kisses him for about 3-4 seconds and then pulls back-- it is undetermined whether there was tongue, for the most part it appears that Karofsky kisses Kurt's bottom lip.
Karofsky pulls back from the kiss, taking one hand completely off of Kurt's face, the other hand (the Fury, we'll call it, since it is Karofsky's right) still touching Kurt's jaw. Karofsky pulls this hand away from Kurt's face and leans in to kiss him again. Kurt pushes Karofsky away, drawing his own hand up to his mouth. Karofsky's face changes, he turns and hits the lockers with both hands, possibly saying "Fuck!" when he does so (but it's FOX so y'know). Karofsky looks at Kurt as he leaves the locker room, Karofsky making sniffing noises (potentially crying or on the verge of doing so) as he goes.
Karofsky greets Blaine and Kurt with "hey ladyboys" when they come to confront him together. Karofsky then makes a scoffing noise at Blaine and asks, "Is this your boyfriend, Kurt?" When Blaine asks Karofsky to talk with them, he tells him he's got to go to class and pushes Kurt's shoulder to move him out of his way as he passes between the two. When Blaine tells Karofsky that Kurt "told him [Blaine] what you [Karofsky] did", Karofsky feigns ignorance. When Kurt says, "you kissed me", Karofsky continues to act like he doesn't know what Kurt is talking about. When Blaine starts suggesting that Karofsky may be "confused", Karofsky shakes his head and attempts to leave down the stairs. Blaine and Kurt follow him, Blaine telling Karofsky that he's "not alone". Karofsky turns and tackles Blaine into the side of the closed staircase, growling, "Do not mess around with me" (I am still not 100% certain this is what he says, but that's what I hear. Let me know if you know the actual line.) Kurt pushes Karofsky back, separating the two and telling Karofsky he has to stop this. Karofsky looks to the floor before turning and running away (or speed-walking, if you prefer) down the stairs.
Karofsky shoves Kurt into his open locker so hard that Kurt falls to the ground. Karofsky walks backwards a few steps again, just like the previous shove, to watch Kurt before turning around and walking away.
THE SUBSTITUTE
Karofsky passes by Kurt and Mercedes' lunch table, greeting Kurt with "'Sup, homo?" and winking at him.
Karofsky grabs Kurt by the shoulder saying, "Question for you: you tell anyone else what happened? How you-- kissed me?" Kurt corrects him, saying, "You kissed me, Karofsky." Karofsky shushes him and Kurt goes on to say that he understands how hard this is for Karofsky, so he hasn't told anyone else about the kiss. Karofsky tells him that's good and that Kurt should keep it that way-- because if he doesn't: "I'm [Karofsky] going to kill you." He makes a direct unmistakable threat on Kurt's life, watching Kurt's face to make sure he's been heard before walking away.
FURT
Karofsky appears as Kurt is closing his locker after taking a wedding cake topper with a bride and groom from it. Kurt turns, seeing him. Karofsky stares at Kurt for several seconds before Kurt tells Karofsky, "I don't want you near me." Karofsky raises his eyebrows briefly at this and then jabs a finger against Kurt's chest. Karofsky leans in closer to Kurt and smiles as he draws his finger down Kurt's chest. Karofsky then grabs the wedding topper from Kurt's hand, holding it up to Kurt and saying, "Can I have this?" When Kurt doesn't respond, Karofsky says "Thanks." and walks away, putting the wedding topper into the pocket of his letterman jacket.
In Sue's office, when Sue asks if Karofsky physically hurt Kurt, Kurt responds with "no". Will corrects him, pointing out that Kurt has said that Karofsky's shoved him in the lockers, but Sue says that isn't enough. Kurt clarifies that Karofsky didn't shove him this time, he just terrified Kurt. Sue repeats that this isn't enough and that she cannot suspend/expel a student just because he scares Kurt. Kurt likens Karofsky to a monster, saying he doesn't know when the fear is going to hit and he cannot concentrate because of it. Kurt also notes that neither Sue nor Will know what's going on in Karofsky's head and what he's capable of, but when asked to clarify further by Will, Kurt covers by admitting that he might be overreacting. Sue tells Kurt that if Karofsky lays a finger on him, she will expel him without question.
As the girls talk about what to do about the Karofsky situation, Tina notes that they've all been teased, but "something about what Karofsky's doing is so much worse". Rachel concludes they need to get their boyfriends to confront Karofsky as "guys like Karofsky only respond to muscle". Quinn asks if they're planning to "fight violence with violence". Rachel says that she doesn't want them to hit Karofsky, but the club needs to defend Kurt and there's strength in numbers.
As Rachel tries to convince Finn to go along with her plan, Finn notes that Karofsky plays right guard (on the football team) and if Karofsky gets pissed at Finn, Finn will get sacked repeatedly.
In the locker room, Artie approaches Karofsky (with Mike at his side), telling him to stop picking on Kurt. Karofsky responds with, "You mind? I'm changing." Mike tells him they're serious and slams Karofsky's locker closed with a hand. Sam is seen changing to the side of Mike and Puck is behind Karofsky using the lockers on the other side, away from the altercation. Mike tells Karofsky this is "a warning" to which Karofsky responds "oh yeah?" and Artie adds "that from now on you're [Karofsky] going to leave him [Kurt] alone". Karofsky pulls his jacket on and says, "Look, if he [Kurt] wants to be a homo, that's up to him. Don't rub it in my face." Artie replies that they are not asking Karofsky and Mike ups this by saying "yeah, we're done talking about this", intimating that they would move on from talking to physical violence. Mike yells "Just back off, alright?" to Karofsky, who shoves Mike and yells back, "You back off!" Mike falls into Artie, knocking him out of his wheelchair.
After Artie falls, Sam runs up to Karofsky and grabs his shoulders, slamming him into the lockers. (There's a bad cut in the next scene, where Karofsky is standing, with no Sam in sight, over Artie and Mike as Mike helps him up. However, this can't be him as he's struggling with Sam against the lockers in the next cut. I'm a moron. Thanks janekrahe for clearing up that this is Puck and not Karofsky.) Karofsky grabs onto Sam, and reverses the situation, throwing him back-first into the lockers. Sam knees Karofsky in the crotch or at least attempts to, staggering Karofsky, who still keeps his hold on Sam, keeping him pinned to the lockers. Sam pushes back and slams Karofsky into the lockers Sam was previously changing by, Karofsky's back and head striking the locker. Karofsky gets up off the lockers and punches Sam in the face with his right hand, holding onto Sam's arm with his left. Sam falls on his face but turns and gets on his back as Karofsky chases after him, getting on top of him and going to hit him as Sam tries to protect himself. Beiste comes in and separates the two of them, as she does so, Sam goes after Karofsky again, hitting at his shoulder. Karofsky appears to attempt to return the favor, but Beiste has him pinned against the lockers.
As the Glee club discusses the fight, it is revealed that Karofsky gave Sam a black eye. However, when Mr. Schuester asks whether they need to see the principal or not, Sam replies that he "got in a few good licks" and they could "call it even". He adds that the fight will send a warning to Karofsky so that he'll back off Kurt.
As Finn and Kurt begin to practice dancing for the wedding, Karofsky is seen in the hallway outside the choir room staring at them. He makes a face and a limp-wristed gesture at the duo before walking down the hallway. Burt questions this and Kurt initially says "it's nothing". When Burt persists, Finn adds his voice, telling Kurt to "Tell him [Burt]. Tell him or I will." Kurt responds, "His name's Dave Karofsky. He's been harassing me for a few weeks now." When Burt presses Kurt for details, Kurt tells Burt that "He [Karofsky] threatened to kill me." Burt runs after Karofsky, grabbing his shoulders and throwing him against a wall. Burt then pushes his arm against Karofsky's throat, grabbing his shirt, asking if Karofsky likes picking on people and saying Karofsky should try him. Kurt and Finn plead with Burt and finally pull Burt off Karofsky. Karofsky walks away immediately.
In Sue's office (presumably next day as everyone is dressed differently), Karofsky immediately denies everything, saying "Nothing happened." Burt tells Karofsky's father, Paul, that Karofsky threatened Kurt's life. Sue asks Kurt if that's true, and he nods silently. Karofsky counters, saying "that's not true, I didn't say anything", to which Kurt verbally responds "That's what he said. He said he'd kill me if I told anyone." When Sue asks what Kurt could tell anyone, he lies, saying "Just... that he was picking on me." Karofsky sighs and then says that Kurt's making all this stuff up. When Burt counters this, Paul interrupts, noting that Karofsky has been acting differently lately, that his grades are slipping and that he is talking back. Paul then asks Karofsky why Kurt would make up the threat. Karofsky responds with "Maybe he likes me." Burt demands Sue take action and she does, expelling Karofsky and telling both Karofsky and Paul that if they don't like it they can appeal to the school board. Karofsky and his father leave, Paul thanking Sue for her time.
In Sue's office, Sue tells Carole, Burt and Kurt that the school board retracted Karofsky's expulsion from McKinley and that he would be back the next day. She says that the school board could do something about Karofsky, they just chose not to. She adds that no one reported witnessing Karofsky being violent and there is no way to prove that Karofsky threatened Kurt with violence. Sue reports that the school board president issued a verbal warning to Karofsky. When Kurt expresses his fear, Sue notes that kids who bully have often been bullied themselves and that she doesn't think that behavior can change. She voices that she's aware that Karofsky isn't suddenly going to be nice to Kurt as well.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
When Puck talks about Glee club via Bruce Springsteen's life story to the football team, Karofsky asks "Is this going somewhere?" to which Puck responds "Don't push me, Karofsky-- you forced my boy Kurt out of here and juvy or no you're already number one on my list to go all Death Star on."
When Puck tells the guys it's time to join Glee-- Karofsky responds, "Glee club is definitely not cool." Azimio suggests re-instating the 10 AM slushie-- Karofsky replies that they should "make an example" of Puck. Azimio agrees and the whole football team goes after Puck, presumably not to beat on him so much as to restrain him for locking him up in the portable toilet for a day. It is unknown how much Karofsky was involved in this stunt, however he was not either of the two players that actually barricaded Puck inside and actually flipped the portable toilet over in the next scene.
A VERY GLEE CHRISTMAS
Karofsky (with Azimio) holiday slushie Mike, Tina and Mercedes. Karofsky's slushie hits Mike. The slushies are later revealed to slush from the parking lot with added food coloring.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
And that's the rap sheet as it stands.
Now at most, Karofsky could be seen as having committed assault and battery, for the punch and the locker throws. However, as far as the punch goes, it was three guys (or 2 1/2 if you're Sue) confronting him and Sam fought back. Doesn't make it right, but makes it highly defensible. As for the locker shoves, as Sue noted in Furt, the "I slipped" defense works very well, so again, there's the whole it ain't right, but it ain't going to put Karofsky in juvy.
As for the kiss, there's the question of sexual assault. The definition of sexual assault varies from state to state, so I read up on Ohio's laws regarding it. One thing I first note is that neither in the definition of sexual conduct, sexual contact OR sexual activity, is there any mention of kissing. That in effect kills any argument legally that Karofsky sexually assaulted Kurt as all the following definitions of rape, sexual battery, sexual imposition RELY on the above definition of what sexual conduct/contact/activity means.
So can you believe Karofsky sexually assaulted Kurt with the kiss? Sure.
Legally, did he sexually assault Kurt? No, despite what your brief flip-through of Wikipedia may have to say about the definition of sexual assault. You should've read this bit of the Wiki page before jumping to your conclusion: "In the United States the definition of sexual assault varies widely between the individual states."
Now that that's out of the way, here's the actual BIG crime. The threat Karofsky made against Kurt's life. That was serious. Threatening people is covered under coercion laws in most states and looking in Ohio's state laws, they don't differ in terms of this. Surprisingly the most innocuous of all Karfosky's crimes is the one he could probably get most in trouble for-- and to a point, in Furt, he did.
However, this is still highly defensible in legal terms alone. I mean seriously-- raise your hand if, as a teenager, you ever said you wanted to or were going to kill someone or wished someone was dead. Keep your hands raised if you said that directly to the person. I imagine there's a lot of hands in the air still, and I won't lie: mine's among them.
So in short, Karofsky is far, far, faaaaaaar from some gorilla bearing down on Kurt, wanting nothing more than to taste his sweet virgin blood, to use Ken Tanaka's terminology. He's not beyond redemption and the pairing of him and Kurt isn't because people want to excuse sexual assault or violence or bullying.
And I'll be the first to say that Karofsky does not deserve Kurt due to previous infractions. But I hope he gets him anyways. And that on the way there, understanding is created between the two of them.
And love.
And rainbows.
And unicorns.
♥ ♥ ♥
(PS: Because I wanted to make this purely about Karofsky, I didn't touch on a few things, such as a comparison of Puck and Dave in terms of crimes committed (bullying and otherwise) or the fact that Burt actually assaulted a minor which could've gotten him into far more trouble than Dave if that was pursued. Awesome as Burt "Papa Bear" Hummel is, he's the adult in the situation. :( )
But if someone else wants to tackle such subjects, please do. :B :B :B)
12/1/2010 -- Added information for Special Education
12/8/2010 -- Added information for A Very Glee Christmas
[SPOILERS UP TO A VERY GLEE CHRISTMAS ONLY UNDER THE CUTS]
I think the greatest hurdle Kurtofsky fans face when explaining the whys and hows of the ship to others is that they've got an idea of who David Karofsky is in their heads. To general viewers, he is a douchebag, a creep, a closet-case and your typical jock meathead. To slashers/shippers/hardcore fans, he is even worse, words like murderer, molester and rapist being thrown around given the content of the last few episodes.
But what has Karofsky ACTUALLY done? And if Glee were remotely close to reality, what would be his crimes, in legal terms?
Let's take a look at this episode by episode. We can all assume things happen outside our viewership, sure-- and there's scenes referenced that we will never actually see (e.g. Kurt's announcing to the football team, while in the showers, that he is not playing anymore because he's choosing Glee over football -- Mash-Up)-- but the assumption of what happens outside of canon /isn't/ canon. It's fanon. As is assuming anything else, like characters' mental states. Unless Kurt tells us "he's full of ennui", we can argue otherwise.
So here's Dave's rap sheet, devoid of fanon assumptions or biases for or against him as a character. I so sorry bb Davey, I hope you still love me after this.
This also recounts some of Azimio's acts and lines because in some instances fans seem to blur the lines between the two characters. Understandable, as in first season they trolled the halls as a unit, but they are still distinct characters.
SEASON 1
MASH-UP
Karofsky goes down the hallway, slushie in hand, faking out several Gleeks into thinking he's going to peg them.
Karofsky slushies Finn, who responds by grabbing Karofsky by the shoulders and yanking him back to the wall. Karofsky shoves Finn back. Finn shoves him again. Karofsky shoves back. Finn shoves him yet again after Karofsky comments on how Finn's "insperminated the Queen of the Chastity Ball". Finn grabs Karofsky's shirt telling him "you're gonna pay for this, dude". Karofsky responds by knocking Finn's arms back and telling Finn "no I'm not".
Karofsky mocks Finn and Quinn verbally and notes a time in fifth grade when Finn made fun of him. Quinn gets in a few words of her own.
Karofsky slushies Puck as Puck is walking arm in arm down the hallway with Rachel. (Thanks to nb2000 for catching this one I missed in my initial post!)
MATTRESS
Karofsky (with Azimio) hold up Finn against the lockers while his arms are stuck in his shoulder pads. Karofsky and Azimio draw on Finn's face in black marker (unknown whether it is permanent).
Karofsky and Azimio verbally mock Finn together.
Finn shoves Karofsky back with a hearty "Screw you" and Karofsky slaps his arms away. Finn keeps one hand on Karofsky's chest during this exchange to hold him back while his attention is focused on Azimio.
Karofsky makes a squirrel face at Finn?
Karofsky pushes Finn one last time as he walks away, asking Azimio how to spell loser-- since he plans to write it on Finn's forehead. Azimio and Karofsky laugh together about Finn's giant forehead as they leave.
Karofsky defaces the Glee photo in the Thunderclap. This includes changing 'Glee Club' to 'Geek Club', writing 'Losers' and 'No Directions' in the margins around the photo, buck teeth on Finn, boobs and what's either a pair of panties, a skirt and/or a vagina on Kurt, an afro and blacked out tooth or Hitler!stache and goatee on Matt, a beard on Quinn, a pitchfork in Santana's hands and blacking out her eyes, drawing something in Mercedes's hand and on her mouth that I cannot identify for the life of me (ETA: One theory could be that it is a lollipop and therefore a slur about her weight, thanks separatrix!), blacking out Artie's teeth and drawing horns on him, drawing horns on Puck, blacking out Tina's eyes and drawing a beard on her, drawing horns on Rachel and putting a pitchfork in her hand before Xing out her face and then writing 'Lame' with an arrow pointing to her.
HELL-O
Karofsky pegs Rachel in the face with a slushie (along with Azimio, who gets Mercedes, and some other guy who pegs Kurt).
Karofsky mocks Rachel, Kurt and Mercedes verbally.
BAD REPUTATION
Karofsky mocks Sue verbally which should be a star on his record, rather than a strike, for bravery alone.
THEATRICALITY
Karofsky shoves Tina into Kurt (after Azimio shoves Kurt into the lockers).
Karofsky turns around to confront Kurt after Kurt asks if he's been dropped on his head, clarifying that he shouldn't push around a girl. Azimio comments that they can't tell the difference. Karofsky verbally mocks Kurt for "dressing all freaky" and "rubbing it in everyone's faces". He goes on to say that he "doesn't want to look at it all day" and "it's weird" and "makes his eyes tired". When Kurt persists, Azimio threatens physical violence against him.
Kurt yells after the two of them. Karofsky counters and calls him "fancy".
Karofsky (with Azimio) verbally mock Finn in the boys' bathroom as he is getting his KISS makeup on. He asks Finn if he's wearing makeup, pointing at it and getting his hand smacked away by Finn. Azimio comments that he knew it (being gay) was "contagious" and that since Finn moved in with Kurt he's gotten a "bad case of the gay". Finn says it's something for Glee Club, Karofsky pushes him and says, "Oh then it's definitely not gay, huh?" to which Finn responds by shoving him back and saying "Get out of my way". Azimio makes another remark about Finn's sexuality ("You being a jock and being in this Glee Club doesn't make you versatile: it makes you bisexual"). Karofsky threatens Finn with physical violence, saying "if we've [Karofsky and Azimio] gotta kick your ass to make you understand that--then our schedules are wide open". Azimio tells Finn to get out of the bathroom, that the girls' bathroom is across the hall. Karofsky laughs and leaves with Azimio.
After the KISS performance, Karofsky and Azimio catch Kurt and Tina in the hallway. They back them up against a wall, Karofsky saying that they "warned" the duo and Azimio adding that the "Gagas gotta go". Kurt is later seen gluing rhinestones back onto his shoes, with no bruises on his hands/arms or face/neck (however this doesn't mean he wasn't physically injured). He asks Finn if he could ask Azimio and Karofsky to find a way to harass him that doesn't involve damaging his Lady Gaga outfit.
Azimio pushes Kurt against the wall. Kurt (while crying) then tells them if they want to hit him or beat him up, they can go ahead because he [Kurt] will never change. Azimio says he will do just that and offers Karofsky the first hit. Finn appears to rescue Kurt and Azimio mocks his outfit. Finn says he won't let anyone lay a hand on Kurt and Karofsky replies that he's pretty sure they [Azimio and Karofsky] can take Finn and Kurt in a fight. The rest of the Glee club appears and Azimio mocks them and Finn calling them the "freak hive" and Finn the "queen freak". Karofsky intimates that next time, they'll [Azimio and Karofsky] bring some friends too, before leaving with Azimio.
SEASON 2
AUDITION
Karofsky (with Azimio) double-slushie Kurt while he is having his interview on Jacob's web show. Azimio mocks Kurt by saying "welcome back, lady".
BRITNEY/BRITTANY
Karofsky pushes Finn up against the lockers while Azimio steals Finn's letterman jacket from his open locker. Azimio says it belongs to people who are actually on the team and that they're going to "restyle it to represent the obvious duality in your [Finn's] sexuality". Karofsky and Azimio rip the jacket down the middle. Finn takes a swing at Azimio and misses, hitting the locker-- both Azimio and Karofsky mock him for this and encourage him to fight them. Artie interrupts the fight, Karofsky encourages Azimio to "take" Finn, Azimio points out that Artie is in the way and is concerned about what will happen if he knocks him over. Karofsky notes that there's "something not right about hitting a kid in a wheelchair". Azimio tells Finn the only thing saving him is Azimio's "moral code" and that he doesn't hit "cripple people" but he'll be back.
Azimio tells Rachel (with her new Britney schoolgirl look on) that she can hit him as many times as she wants as long as she's got that on. Karofsky looks at Rachel and asks "How come all the gay guys get the hottest chicks?" in reference to Finn.
DUETS
Karofsky and Azimio double slushie Sam. Azimio says "Welcome to Glee Club, lady lips!" before the two leave the hallway.
THE ROCKY HORROR GLEE SHOW
Karofsky and Azimio follow Finn down the hallway (while he's wearing his Brad costume-- that is, a pair of plain white boxers). Karofsky and Azimio mock him verbally; Karofsky saying, "My grandpa Murray called-- he wants his boxers back." Karofsky and Azimio high five and leave together.
NEVER BEEN KISSED
Karofsky pushes Kurt into the lockers while Kurt is walking down the hallway with Tina.
Karofsky pushes Kurt into the lockers while Kurt's alone. Kurt yells "What is your problem?" to which Karofsky turns around and asks if Kurt is talking back to him. He then asks if Kurt wants "a piece of the Fury"-- when Kurt questions this, Karofsky indicates that is his name for his fist, making the threat one of physical violence. Kurt mocks him for this, Karofsky doesn't get the reference but promises if he finds out Kurt was making fun of him, that the "Fury" will find him. Karofsky shoves Kurt into the lockers one more time as he passes by again.
Karofsky slaps Kurt's phone out of his hands and shoves him into the locker as he walks by. Karofsky walks backwards a few steps, watching Kurt before he turns and leaves the hallway.
Karofsky tells Kurt "the girls' locker room is next door" when Kurt comes into the locker room yelling at him. Kurt asks Karofsky what his problem is and what he's so scared of-- Karofsky responds, "besides you sneaking in here to peek at my junk?" Kurt mocks him for having "every straight guy's nightmare" about how "all us gays are secretly out to molest and convert you." Kurt then says, "Well guess what, hamhock-- you're not my type." To this Karofsky responds with "That right?" and Kurt replies, "Yeah-- I don't dig on chubby boys who sweat too much and are going to be bald by the time they're thirty." Karofsky tells Kurt, "Do not push me, Hummel" while holding his fist up to Kurt's face, threatening physical violence. Kurt asks if Karofsky is going to hit him and dares him to do so-- Karofsky responds by telling Kurt again "Don't push me" while slamming his open locker closed with his other hand. Kurt tells him to go ahead and hit him because it won't change who he [Kurt] is and adds that "you can't punch the gay out of me anymore than I can punch the ignoramus out of you". Karofsky yells at Kurt to get out of his face-- fist no longer clenched as he appears to raise his hand to point at the door. Kurt yells at Karofsky, waving his finger in Karofsky's face and saying he is "nothing but a scared little boy" who can't handle how "extraordinarily ordinary" he is.
Both of Karofsky's hands grab Kurt from either side of his face and he holds him still as he leans in suddenly and kisses him. Karofsky's thumbs are pressed to Kurt's cheeks, his pinkies are hooked just at the back of Kurt's neck and his other fingers are behind Kurt's ear, pressed into the back of his hair. He kisses him for about 3-4 seconds and then pulls back-- it is undetermined whether there was tongue, for the most part it appears that Karofsky kisses Kurt's bottom lip.
Karofsky pulls back from the kiss, taking one hand completely off of Kurt's face, the other hand (the Fury, we'll call it, since it is Karofsky's right) still touching Kurt's jaw. Karofsky pulls this hand away from Kurt's face and leans in to kiss him again. Kurt pushes Karofsky away, drawing his own hand up to his mouth. Karofsky's face changes, he turns and hits the lockers with both hands, possibly saying "Fuck!" when he does so (but it's FOX so y'know). Karofsky looks at Kurt as he leaves the locker room, Karofsky making sniffing noises (potentially crying or on the verge of doing so) as he goes.
Karofsky greets Blaine and Kurt with "hey ladyboys" when they come to confront him together. Karofsky then makes a scoffing noise at Blaine and asks, "Is this your boyfriend, Kurt?" When Blaine asks Karofsky to talk with them, he tells him he's got to go to class and pushes Kurt's shoulder to move him out of his way as he passes between the two. When Blaine tells Karofsky that Kurt "told him [Blaine] what you [Karofsky] did", Karofsky feigns ignorance. When Kurt says, "you kissed me", Karofsky continues to act like he doesn't know what Kurt is talking about. When Blaine starts suggesting that Karofsky may be "confused", Karofsky shakes his head and attempts to leave down the stairs. Blaine and Kurt follow him, Blaine telling Karofsky that he's "not alone". Karofsky turns and tackles Blaine into the side of the closed staircase, growling, "Do not mess around with me" (I am still not 100% certain this is what he says, but that's what I hear. Let me know if you know the actual line.) Kurt pushes Karofsky back, separating the two and telling Karofsky he has to stop this. Karofsky looks to the floor before turning and running away (or speed-walking, if you prefer) down the stairs.
Karofsky shoves Kurt into his open locker so hard that Kurt falls to the ground. Karofsky walks backwards a few steps again, just like the previous shove, to watch Kurt before turning around and walking away.
THE SUBSTITUTE
Karofsky passes by Kurt and Mercedes' lunch table, greeting Kurt with "'Sup, homo?" and winking at him.
Karofsky grabs Kurt by the shoulder saying, "Question for you: you tell anyone else what happened? How you-- kissed me?" Kurt corrects him, saying, "You kissed me, Karofsky." Karofsky shushes him and Kurt goes on to say that he understands how hard this is for Karofsky, so he hasn't told anyone else about the kiss. Karofsky tells him that's good and that Kurt should keep it that way-- because if he doesn't: "I'm [Karofsky] going to kill you." He makes a direct unmistakable threat on Kurt's life, watching Kurt's face to make sure he's been heard before walking away.
FURT
Karofsky appears as Kurt is closing his locker after taking a wedding cake topper with a bride and groom from it. Kurt turns, seeing him. Karofsky stares at Kurt for several seconds before Kurt tells Karofsky, "I don't want you near me." Karofsky raises his eyebrows briefly at this and then jabs a finger against Kurt's chest. Karofsky leans in closer to Kurt and smiles as he draws his finger down Kurt's chest. Karofsky then grabs the wedding topper from Kurt's hand, holding it up to Kurt and saying, "Can I have this?" When Kurt doesn't respond, Karofsky says "Thanks." and walks away, putting the wedding topper into the pocket of his letterman jacket.
In Sue's office, when Sue asks if Karofsky physically hurt Kurt, Kurt responds with "no". Will corrects him, pointing out that Kurt has said that Karofsky's shoved him in the lockers, but Sue says that isn't enough. Kurt clarifies that Karofsky didn't shove him this time, he just terrified Kurt. Sue repeats that this isn't enough and that she cannot suspend/expel a student just because he scares Kurt. Kurt likens Karofsky to a monster, saying he doesn't know when the fear is going to hit and he cannot concentrate because of it. Kurt also notes that neither Sue nor Will know what's going on in Karofsky's head and what he's capable of, but when asked to clarify further by Will, Kurt covers by admitting that he might be overreacting. Sue tells Kurt that if Karofsky lays a finger on him, she will expel him without question.
As the girls talk about what to do about the Karofsky situation, Tina notes that they've all been teased, but "something about what Karofsky's doing is so much worse". Rachel concludes they need to get their boyfriends to confront Karofsky as "guys like Karofsky only respond to muscle". Quinn asks if they're planning to "fight violence with violence". Rachel says that she doesn't want them to hit Karofsky, but the club needs to defend Kurt and there's strength in numbers.
As Rachel tries to convince Finn to go along with her plan, Finn notes that Karofsky plays right guard (on the football team) and if Karofsky gets pissed at Finn, Finn will get sacked repeatedly.
In the locker room, Artie approaches Karofsky (with Mike at his side), telling him to stop picking on Kurt. Karofsky responds with, "You mind? I'm changing." Mike tells him they're serious and slams Karofsky's locker closed with a hand. Sam is seen changing to the side of Mike and Puck is behind Karofsky using the lockers on the other side, away from the altercation. Mike tells Karofsky this is "a warning" to which Karofsky responds "oh yeah?" and Artie adds "that from now on you're [Karofsky] going to leave him [Kurt] alone". Karofsky pulls his jacket on and says, "Look, if he [Kurt] wants to be a homo, that's up to him. Don't rub it in my face." Artie replies that they are not asking Karofsky and Mike ups this by saying "yeah, we're done talking about this", intimating that they would move on from talking to physical violence. Mike yells "Just back off, alright?" to Karofsky, who shoves Mike and yells back, "You back off!" Mike falls into Artie, knocking him out of his wheelchair.
After Artie falls, Sam runs up to Karofsky and grabs his shoulders, slamming him into the lockers. (There's a bad cut in the next scene, where Karofsky is standing, with no Sam in sight, over Artie and Mike as Mike helps him up. However, this can't be him as he's struggling with Sam against the lockers in the next cut. I'm a moron. Thanks janekrahe for clearing up that this is Puck and not Karofsky.) Karofsky grabs onto Sam, and reverses the situation, throwing him back-first into the lockers. Sam knees Karofsky in the crotch or at least attempts to, staggering Karofsky, who still keeps his hold on Sam, keeping him pinned to the lockers. Sam pushes back and slams Karofsky into the lockers Sam was previously changing by, Karofsky's back and head striking the locker. Karofsky gets up off the lockers and punches Sam in the face with his right hand, holding onto Sam's arm with his left. Sam falls on his face but turns and gets on his back as Karofsky chases after him, getting on top of him and going to hit him as Sam tries to protect himself. Beiste comes in and separates the two of them, as she does so, Sam goes after Karofsky again, hitting at his shoulder. Karofsky appears to attempt to return the favor, but Beiste has him pinned against the lockers.
As the Glee club discusses the fight, it is revealed that Karofsky gave Sam a black eye. However, when Mr. Schuester asks whether they need to see the principal or not, Sam replies that he "got in a few good licks" and they could "call it even". He adds that the fight will send a warning to Karofsky so that he'll back off Kurt.
As Finn and Kurt begin to practice dancing for the wedding, Karofsky is seen in the hallway outside the choir room staring at them. He makes a face and a limp-wristed gesture at the duo before walking down the hallway. Burt questions this and Kurt initially says "it's nothing". When Burt persists, Finn adds his voice, telling Kurt to "Tell him [Burt]. Tell him or I will." Kurt responds, "His name's Dave Karofsky. He's been harassing me for a few weeks now." When Burt presses Kurt for details, Kurt tells Burt that "He [Karofsky] threatened to kill me." Burt runs after Karofsky, grabbing his shoulders and throwing him against a wall. Burt then pushes his arm against Karofsky's throat, grabbing his shirt, asking if Karofsky likes picking on people and saying Karofsky should try him. Kurt and Finn plead with Burt and finally pull Burt off Karofsky. Karofsky walks away immediately.
In Sue's office (presumably next day as everyone is dressed differently), Karofsky immediately denies everything, saying "Nothing happened." Burt tells Karofsky's father, Paul, that Karofsky threatened Kurt's life. Sue asks Kurt if that's true, and he nods silently. Karofsky counters, saying "that's not true, I didn't say anything", to which Kurt verbally responds "That's what he said. He said he'd kill me if I told anyone." When Sue asks what Kurt could tell anyone, he lies, saying "Just... that he was picking on me." Karofsky sighs and then says that Kurt's making all this stuff up. When Burt counters this, Paul interrupts, noting that Karofsky has been acting differently lately, that his grades are slipping and that he is talking back. Paul then asks Karofsky why Kurt would make up the threat. Karofsky responds with "Maybe he likes me." Burt demands Sue take action and she does, expelling Karofsky and telling both Karofsky and Paul that if they don't like it they can appeal to the school board. Karofsky and his father leave, Paul thanking Sue for her time.
In Sue's office, Sue tells Carole, Burt and Kurt that the school board retracted Karofsky's expulsion from McKinley and that he would be back the next day. She says that the school board could do something about Karofsky, they just chose not to. She adds that no one reported witnessing Karofsky being violent and there is no way to prove that Karofsky threatened Kurt with violence. Sue reports that the school board president issued a verbal warning to Karofsky. When Kurt expresses his fear, Sue notes that kids who bully have often been bullied themselves and that she doesn't think that behavior can change. She voices that she's aware that Karofsky isn't suddenly going to be nice to Kurt as well.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
When Puck talks about Glee club via Bruce Springsteen's life story to the football team, Karofsky asks "Is this going somewhere?" to which Puck responds "Don't push me, Karofsky-- you forced my boy Kurt out of here and juvy or no you're already number one on my list to go all Death Star on."
When Puck tells the guys it's time to join Glee-- Karofsky responds, "Glee club is definitely not cool." Azimio suggests re-instating the 10 AM slushie-- Karofsky replies that they should "make an example" of Puck. Azimio agrees and the whole football team goes after Puck, presumably not to beat on him so much as to restrain him for locking him up in the portable toilet for a day. It is unknown how much Karofsky was involved in this stunt, however he was not either of the two players that actually barricaded Puck inside and actually flipped the portable toilet over in the next scene.
A VERY GLEE CHRISTMAS
Karofsky (with Azimio) holiday slushie Mike, Tina and Mercedes. Karofsky's slushie hits Mike. The slushies are later revealed to slush from the parking lot with added food coloring.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
And that's the rap sheet as it stands.
Now at most, Karofsky could be seen as having committed assault and battery, for the punch and the locker throws. However, as far as the punch goes, it was three guys (or 2 1/2 if you're Sue) confronting him and Sam fought back. Doesn't make it right, but makes it highly defensible. As for the locker shoves, as Sue noted in Furt, the "I slipped" defense works very well, so again, there's the whole it ain't right, but it ain't going to put Karofsky in juvy.
As for the kiss, there's the question of sexual assault. The definition of sexual assault varies from state to state, so I read up on Ohio's laws regarding it. One thing I first note is that neither in the definition of sexual conduct, sexual contact OR sexual activity, is there any mention of kissing. That in effect kills any argument legally that Karofsky sexually assaulted Kurt as all the following definitions of rape, sexual battery, sexual imposition RELY on the above definition of what sexual conduct/contact/activity means.
So can you believe Karofsky sexually assaulted Kurt with the kiss? Sure.
Legally, did he sexually assault Kurt? No, despite what your brief flip-through of Wikipedia may have to say about the definition of sexual assault. You should've read this bit of the Wiki page before jumping to your conclusion: "In the United States the definition of sexual assault varies widely between the individual states."
Now that that's out of the way, here's the actual BIG crime. The threat Karofsky made against Kurt's life. That was serious. Threatening people is covered under coercion laws in most states and looking in Ohio's state laws, they don't differ in terms of this. Surprisingly the most innocuous of all Karfosky's crimes is the one he could probably get most in trouble for-- and to a point, in Furt, he did.
However, this is still highly defensible in legal terms alone. I mean seriously-- raise your hand if, as a teenager, you ever said you wanted to or were going to kill someone or wished someone was dead. Keep your hands raised if you said that directly to the person. I imagine there's a lot of hands in the air still, and I won't lie: mine's among them.
So in short, Karofsky is far, far, faaaaaaar from some gorilla bearing down on Kurt, wanting nothing more than to taste his sweet virgin blood, to use Ken Tanaka's terminology. He's not beyond redemption and the pairing of him and Kurt isn't because people want to excuse sexual assault or violence or bullying.
And I'll be the first to say that Karofsky does not deserve Kurt due to previous infractions. But I hope he gets him anyways. And that on the way there, understanding is created between the two of them.
And love.
And rainbows.
And unicorns.
♥ ♥ ♥
(PS: Because I wanted to make this purely about Karofsky, I didn't touch on a few things, such as a comparison of Puck and Dave in terms of crimes committed (bullying and otherwise) or the fact that Burt actually assaulted a minor which could've gotten him into far more trouble than Dave if that was pursued. Awesome as Burt "Papa Bear" Hummel is, he's the adult in the situation. :( )
But if someone else wants to tackle such subjects, please do. :B :B :B)