Tami Barker, the beleaguered Airbnb host who denied an already-reserved services to a Korean-American customer for being “Asian” has issued an official apology.
Dyne Suh, 23, initially made a booking for a cabin around Big Bear Lake to spend the Presidents’ Day Weekend with her fiancé and two other friends. Minutes before Suh’s arrival, she received a text message from the cabin’s host that he booking has been cancelled. The reason for the cancellation, bizarrely, was because she was “Asian.”
“I wouldn’t rent to [you] if [you] were the last person on earth,” Barker’s text message read. “One word says it all. Asian … It’s why we have trump. And I will not allow this country to be told what to do by foreigners.”
About two weeks after, a letter drafted by her attorney read, “Ms. Barker is deeply sorry for the comments she made. She asks your forgiveness for grossly stereotyping in a racist way the Asian community, and, specifically, you. Overtired and stressed, Tami made the statements out of heated frustration—but that’s merely a reason, not an excuse, as she explained to me she fully understands. She knows there was no basis for her ad hominem attack.”
Barker reportedly said through her attorney that she will never repeat her mistakes.
Meanwhile, Barker plans to issue additional statement in the near future.
“It takes courage to admit wrong and seek forgiveness in the face of public scrutiny,” said Korean American Coalition executive director Joon Bang. “Given the climate of race relations in the nation, it’s up to us now to move forward and perhaps be willing to engage one another in tough conversations to bridge gaps between diverse people and communities.”
By Jiyoon Kim
