Airbnb Host Who Canceled Reservation Of Asian Guest Fined $5K
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — An Airbnb host who made a racial remark after cancelling a California woman's reservation has been ordered to pay a $5,000 fine and attend a college course in Asian American studies.
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing says Thursday the host also agreed to apologize.
The guest, Dyne Suh, had reserved a home near Big Bear Lake in February through Airbnb. The host later canceled the reservation as Suh was just a few minutes away from the home, leaving her and her guests stranded in a snowstorm.
The host, Tami Barker, said it was because Suh was going to have additional guests. Barker wrote in a message to Suh, "One word says it all. Asian."
According to screenshots Suh posted on Facebook, Barker had referenced President Donald Trump when she said, "And I will not allow this country to be told what to do by foreigners."
Suh said she hoped the settlement encourages others to report discrimination.
(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)