Airbnb Stay Goes Viral For Racially Offensive Decor

Unique Airbnbs offer travelers the opportunity to step outside their comfort zone and try something new. While many Airbnbs have their own distinct style and charm, some hosts take this to a whole new level, providing top-notch experiences and creating the best vacation photos. However, occasionally there are Airbnb listings that go too far.

Some Airbnb stays have significant issues with creating a welcoming environment. These types of accommodations typically make minor mistakes in presentation, but one Airbnb stay has gone viral for a major fail. Black travelers from everywhere are contributing to the discourse about this unique and offensive Airbnb stay, noting its undeniable bad taste and lack of cultural sensitivity.

The Airbnb Stay With Racist Decor

In the viral video, a woman begrudgingly shows off the offensive decor seemingly all around her Airbnb. The TikTik post, captioned “Southern Airbnb core,” might lead viewers to expect something outlandish, but not much could prepare the audience for what was shown next.

The video shows toy monkeys hanging everywhere. To make matters worse, the monkeys are all draped on branches of cotton. The randomly placed decor makes the woman staying there uncomfortable due to the racist implications of both symbols. Due to the racist history of America, a cotton plant represents the old South, which oppressed African Americans. Some people use monkeys as racist imagery or as an offensive name for African Americans. So, the combination of these things was an overwhelming sight.

Reactions To The Situation

Many people responded to the situation with awe and disgust at what the Airbnb guest experienced. Many comments expressed shock at the reality of the Airbnb stay and the implications of the decor.

Some viewers took their reactions further than emotion. A few comments suggested that the woman press charges or contact Airbnb directly to deal with the situation so the host could never again make another Black visitor uncomfortable.

While the short video showed many similar pieces of decor throughout the Airbnb, some people questioned the display. A few commenters wondered if the situation was staged due to the woman’s non-reactiveness in the video.

A few commenters suggested various forms of retaliation. These interactions got lots of engagement and made it clear that some people were unsure if authorities would take the situation seriously.