View Full Version : Airbnb host in Spain Blocks a Black Women
arista
15-10-2019, 01:47 AM
[Airbnb says it is investigating after
a black woman claimed her booking
was rejected by a host in Spain - only for
her white friend's identical request
to be accepted later.
Ruth Ibegbuna, from Bradford,
hoped to book herself a flat
through Airbnb for a week in Spain,
and with her excellent guest reviews,
didn't envisage a problem from the
place she had her eye on.
But she says her request was declined,
only to then find her white friend
was able to make the same booking
without fuss.
She tweeted: "An Airbnb host in Spain
has declined my week-long booking
of her apartment despite all my excellent
reviews from previous hosts.
Asked a white friend to try for
same dates and it's suddenly available
after all....#EverydayRacism."]
https://twitter.com/MsIbegbuna
https://news.sky.com/story/airbnb-investigating-after-black-womans-booking-rejected-by-host-but-white-friend-accepted-11835804
https://e3.365dm.com/19/10/768x432/skynews-airbnb-racism-spain_4804573.jpg?bypass-service-worker&20191014184055
Sign Of The Times
Mitchell
15-10-2019, 01:56 AM
Waiting for the people to defend this...
...if her booking was rejected because of race, then it’s indefensible ...it’s easy to see why she feels that’s the case because of her friend’s same booking being accepted...but there could be an explanation../..a reason that we’re just not seeing atm, which the investigation will reveal...
...so on the booking information, race is something people are questioned about...?...how odd, I didn’t think that was allowed to be asked...
...I’ve just realised the thread title, Arista....why (typical Spain)...?...nothing about this story is ‘typical Spain’...you’re posting a thread of a story showing potential prejudice, while displaying prejudice yourself...?...Arista, no...
Not sure how this gets a "typical spain" in the title from what is effectively 1 bnb in a huge country where tourism is their life blood :shrug:
Cherie
15-10-2019, 06:02 AM
unless you have to declare 'race' on your application how would the host know?
If they have done this its pretty abhorrent, but the story is a bit patchy for me for now
AnnieK
15-10-2019, 06:18 AM
unless you have to declare 'race' on your application how would the host know?
If they have done this its pretty abhorrent, but the story is a bit patchy for me for now
I can't imagine you would have to declare race but her surname certainly sou ds of African descent so if the host was a racist an educated guess could have been made :shrug:
If proven they should not be allowed to advertise their property on Air BnB anymore
Niamh.
15-10-2019, 06:40 AM
unless you have to declare 'race' on your application how would the host know?
If they have done this its pretty abhorrent, but the story is a bit patchy for me for nowI have a profile picture on my air bnb account as its linked to my google account
Cherie
15-10-2019, 06:55 AM
I have a profile picture on my air bnb account as its linked to my google account
aw right, in that case that is probably the reason then, they should be removed if this is proved to be the case
although I have just opened the link now and it says Air BnB has recently changed its policy and does not provide profile pics until a booking is confirmed, so it may be as Annie says on her name or it could have been a genuine error and someone else was interested but the booking fell through at the last minute or it could be out and out racism
arista
15-10-2019, 07:14 AM
...I’ve just realised the thread title, Arista....why (typical Spain)...?...nothing about this story is ‘typical Spain’...you’re posting a thread of a story showing potential prejudice, while displaying prejudice yourself...?...Arista, no...
Typical Racism
Niamh.
15-10-2019, 07:16 AM
aw right, in that case that is probably the reason then, they should be removed if this is proved to be the case
although I have just opened the link now and it says Air BnB has recently changed its policy and does not provide profile pics until a booking is confirmed, so it may be as Annie says on her name or it could have been a genuine error and someone else was interested but the booking fell through at the last minute or it could be out and out racismI dont know, I know I could see the hosts profile pic before I booked last time I did but maybe its different for hosts or maybe the change is only very recent? I think last time I booked something in there was maybe a year ago
Cherie
15-10-2019, 07:40 AM
I dont know, I know I could see the hosts profile pic before I booked last time I did but maybe its different for hosts or maybe the change is only very recent? I think last time I booked something in there was maybe a year ago
sorry I think they meant the host doesn't see the bookers profile until the booking is confirmed, it says its a recent change on the link
thesheriff443
15-10-2019, 07:43 AM
There is racism in every part of the world, I do know from first had experience that sports stars are subjected to racism by some Spanish fans and supporters are racist to non Spanish fans who support their Spanish teams.
Toy Soldier
15-10-2019, 08:44 AM
I dont know, I know I could see the hosts profile pic before I booked last time I did but maybe its different for hosts or maybe the change is only very recent? I think last time I booked something in there was maybe a year agoI think it was changed specifically so that hosts can't reject people based on appearance. Be that race or, I imagine is often an issue in the UK, class / "not looking respectable enough for the area". Wouldn't want to upset the neighbours, of course.
Niamh.
15-10-2019, 08:46 AM
I think it was changed specifically so that hosts can't reject people based on appearance. Be that race or, I imagine is often an issue in the UK, class / "not looking respectable enough for the area". Wouldn't want to upset the neighbours, of course.
Sad that they would have to do that but I do agree with Annie, the lady in the article's name does sound "African"
Toy Soldier
15-10-2019, 08:52 AM
Sad that they would have to do that but I do agree with Annie, the lady in the article's name does sound "African"Yeah, I'd be fairly confident that it is a race issue. Pretty much impossible to prove "beyond reasonable doubt" though, sadly. Easy to make up an excuse, e.g. "thought a repair was needed but managed to fix it myself so became available again". There will likely be some similar excuse.
Niamh.
15-10-2019, 08:54 AM
Yeah, I'd be fairly confident that it is a race issue. Pretty much impossible to prove "beyond reasonable doubt" though, sadly. Easy to make up an excuse, e.g. "thought a repair was needed but managed to fix it myself so became available again". There will likely be some similar excuse.
yeah, very hard to prove unfortunately
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