A former Airbnb host is being fined $5,000 for cancelling a guest’s reservation because of her race.
Tami Baker, the former host who cancelled Dyne Suh’s reservations earlier this year with a text that said "one word says it all. Asian," has also agreed to complete volunteer service with a civil rights organization and to participate in community educational panel, CBS News reported.
Suh posted a video on social media describing the incident.
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing announced the agreement with Baker on Thursday following investigations into the February cancellation of Suh’s California Airbnb reservation.
"While driving in a snowstorm to an Airbnb listing near Big Bear, California, Airbnb Guest Dyne Suh, a student at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, communicated with the Airbnb Host via the Airbnb mobile app regarding her reservation," noted the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
"Despite having sent confirming text messages approving of additional guests, the host denied that she had agreed to additional guests and cancelled Ms. Suh’s reservation. In a series of communications using the Airbnb mobile app, the Host stated, "I wouldn't rent it to u if u were the last person on earth" and "One word says it all. Asian."
Baker has since issued an apology to Suh.
According to The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Baker has also "agreed to comply with anti-discrimination laws, to attend training, to take a college level course in Asian American studies, to participate in a community education panel, to perform volunteer service at a civil rights organization, and to report rental data for a period of four years."
Commenting on the incident, Airbnb spokesman Nick Papas called Baker’s behavior "abhorrent and unacceptable," reported CNN.
"We have worked to provide the guest with our full support and in line with our non-discrimination policy, this host has been permanently removed from the Airbnb platform," said Pappas.
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