Fantasia took to her social media to express her outrage, and disappointment after allegedly experiencing racial profiling during a stay at an AirBNB property. The incident raised concerns about racial discrimination within the popular vacation rental platform.
Fantasia Airs Out Frustrations
In a series of tweets, Fantasia detailed the events that unfolded during her stay. On Sunday, Dec. 17th, the Grammy-winning singer shared her grievances, accusing the host of attempting to kick her and her family out of the rental late at night.
In a tweet, Fantasia summed it up in what happened over the weekend. She stated:
“ My stomach is so uneasy this morning as I’m riding back to my home in the cold and rain. I don’t say much when people do me wrong, but I can’t stay quiet on how my family and I were just treated from a host with @Airbnb @airbnbhelp trying to kick my kids and I out at 12:00 midnight. The host accused us of having a party with loud noises outdoors because they saw balloons being dropped off and a game truck with no generator in the early part of the day.”
She continued:
“The amount of guests we reserved for are the amount of guest who stayed the night. They never said we weren’t allowed to have any company over!! It’s evident from the sayings on the wall, to the outdoor fire pit/jacuzzi and a well-equipped game room in the garage/poker table that people Hosts parties and/or gatherings here on the lake often as there were weights with balloon ribbon left in the garage from a previous party at the house.”
The “When I See You” singer concluded her tweet with:
“It’s evident to me this was racial profiling and the treatment we received was due to the color of our skin. I wanted my son to enjoy his friends (10-12) year old and make him feel special as I have been traveling for the last 35+ days promoting a movie I starred in. This time, I dare not stay quiet.”
Fans Speculate
Supporters flooded Fantasia’s tweet with messages of solidarity and criticism towards AirBNB. One user (@90skhidd) stating, “I know there are reasons that you cannot tell us the hosts name but I wish you could so we won’t send another black dollar their way!”
Another user (@tweetwithashlee) stating, “Ain’t no way they got all them amenities and don’t want people throwing a party. Even so, they could have said something instead of waiting until midnight to try to inconvenience you & kick you and your children out. Leftover balloon weights were there too? Yeah, something ain’t adding up. @Airbnb @AirbnbHelp You might want to act, and quickly.”
While AirBNB and the host have yet to comment on the matter, the incident has sparked a conversation about systemic racism and the need for accountability within the vacation rental industry.
‘The Color Purple’
In other Fantasia news, the highly anticipated remake of The Color Purple has released a new trailer, providing viewers with a deeper glimpse into the upcoming film. The star-studded trailer, featuring Fantasia, Halle Bailey, Ciara, Taraji P. Henson, and more, showcases the struggles and triumphs of the characters, effectively building anticipation for its release on December 25.
AirBNB Goes For 2
This incident involving Fantasia brings to mind a similar situation that occurred in 2018, when Bob Marley’s granddaughter, Donisha Prendergast, and her friends were surrounded by police while checking out of an AirBNB property. Similar to Fantasia’s experience, Prendergast and her friends believed they were racially profiled and considered taking legal action against the law enforcement agency involved.