Racist Airbnb Host Fined $5,000 For Canceling An Asian Woman’s Reservation
A California-based Airbnb host who cancelled a reservation because the guest was ‘Asian' has agreed to pay a $5,000 fine and attend a college course in Asian-American studies.
In February, Dyne Suh, a 26-year-old law clerk, booked a mountain cabin in Big Bear, California, for $250 a night from Tami Barker for a skiing weekend with friends. Suh had asked Barker if she could bring two friends and two dogs, and Barker agreed on the condition Suh pay an extra $50 per night.
But Barker reportedly texted Suh to cancel the reservation “minutes before they arrived,” writing, “I wouldn’t rent it to u if u were the last person on earth,” and “One word says it all. Asian.”
In a video posted on YouTube, Suh can be seen tearfully recounting her story. Suh complained to both Airbnb and the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). Airbnb has banned Barker from using its services, while the department investigated and helped with mediation talks between both parties.
According to Suh, Barker said, “This is why we have Trump, we can’t have foreigners tell us what to do.” Suh replied “I’m an American citizen, this is my home, I’ve been here since I was three years old.”
“Racism is very much alive. It exists. It can happen to anyone. There’s no balance to racism no matter what class you are, no matter what your education level, no matter if you’re an American citizen, what they see is that I’m Asian, what they see is my race, and this is how we get treated,” she continued.
[via Mashable, opening image via YouTube]
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