Jewish Comedian’s Airbnb Nightmare
Image by Wikimedia Commons
By Anne Cohen March 17, 2014
Who could have possibly imagined that letting perfect strangers into your plush Chelsea apartment could result in utter disaster?
Jewish comedian Ari Teman found out the hard way when he came home to an “XXX Freak Fest” in the New York City apartment he had rented out on Airbnb.
According to Buzzfeed, someone named David booked Teman’s apartment for March 14, claiming he needed a place for his brother and sister-in-law who were “visiting for a wedding.”
When Teman returned to pick up a suitcase he had left behind, he found a crew of around 20 people hanging out on his patio, while others carried out his disassembled furniture.
“My first thought was, these guys are just stealing my furniture,” he told Buzzfeed.
If only.
Turns out, “David” had actually taken to Twitter earlier that day to advertise: “TONIGHT MANHATTAN XXX FREAK FEST @ 1 7th AVE 10pm- 4am $20 b4 1am $25 after…TWINN.” (The tweet has since been taken down).
Though Teman said he didn’t actually see anyone having sex in the apartment, he did glimpse bags of condoms and liquor bottles.
The livid owner wrote posted a letter to Airbnb on Tumblr, claiming that their oversight had resulted in over $80,000 in damages.
Dear Brian and the AirBNB team,
Usually I am a fan of your service. However, I have a minor bone to pick with you, in that it appears my apartment was reserved for some major boning. Also, it appears some stuffed animals were abused. We’ll get to the damage to my furniture and belongings – but first you’re gonna love this:
You just sent a porn sex fest into my apartment, and now I’ve got over $87,076 in losses. I had to call 911 and have these “XXX Freak Fest” people removed from my apartment, my super is having me evicted by my landlord, and I do not feel safe here anymore since hundreds of people got a text saying there’s an XXX sex fest in my apartment and continue showing up, according to the doormen who I’ll never be able to look in the face again.
Teman added that he no longer felt comfortable staying in the apartment.
This can no longer be my home. The stress and fear that a large band of “XXX Freak Fest” individuals have my address and keys to my home is unreal and my friend (who helped me carry my wet and dirty stuff back into the apartment (I don’t even want to know how it’s wet) was even too afraid to stay here and encouraged me to leave.
Bet your Purim weekend is starting to look pretty tame.
Below is the back and forth on Twitter:
Dear @AirBNB and @BChesky . No thank you for the XXX Sex Fest you sent into my apt. http://t.co/K9FjQn4Cug @EliteDaily
— Ari Teman (@AriTeman) March 15, 2014
@AriTeman We’re really sorry to hear that. We’re working on it and will be back to you soon.
— Airbnb (@Airbnb) March 15, 2014
@bchesky @airbnb you sent an “XXX Freak Fest” into my apt. $67k+ in damages. Call me now. Fix this today. Had to call NYPD. Emailed you.
— Ari Teman (@AriTeman) March 15, 2014
How was everyone’s weekend / Purim / illegal “XXX Freak Fest”!?
— Ari Teman (@AriTeman) March 16, 2014
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