July 24, 2014
Airbnb Rep Asks Host to Take Down Homoerotic Pic
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 2 MIN.
A staffer with the popular rooming service Airbnb, which allows users to find or rent out accommodations in private homes around the world, is making headlines this week after asking a New York City party planner to remove a homoerotic photo from his listing even though she found the image "captivating."
The New York Post reports an Airbnb representative named "Kristi L.," whose job it is to review the website's several listings to remove unwanted photos, came across NYC promoter and underwear party impresario Daniel Nardicio's ad for his $225-a-night one-bedroom cabana on Fire Island's Cherry Grove.
The listing had a number of photos of the property but Nardicio decided to spice things up by adding an image of two hot buff nearly naked dudes together in an outdoor shower - but Kristi, a specialist with Airbnb's Trust and Safety Team, who confesses in her message that she is also a "writer of m/m erotica" and that she was "very pleased to see your photo," asked Nardicio to swap out the sexy image.
Kristi also called the pic "mesmerizing" even though it is "just outside of our current realm in terms of general non-risqu� photos for listings."
The letter continues:
Again, not saying that I personally didn't think it was captivating, but if you didn't mind putting up a photo less visually - compelling - while still keeping the verbiage, some of us will sigh with disappointment, but it will also fit more soundly in our Terms of Service.
If you didn't mind dropping me a line when you insert a different photo, I'd be grateful. Also, if you happen to know any friends with ringleted red hair, please let me know; my most recent writing submission could use a book cover.
In all seriousness (and the book cover part was serious!), I'm so glad you're hosting with us, just want to ensure that the preliminary photos are showing more of the listing.
Nardicio told the Post he wasn't offended by the rep's letter and called her a "class act" when he posted the letter to his Facebook page. He also told the newspaper he hasn't taken the picture down but cropped it so they can only be seen from the waist up.
"The best feature of the cabana really is the outdoor shower," Nardicio told the Post.
The newspaper notes that Airbnb officials are dealing with sex scandals after users complained prostitutes used the site.
"If a member of our community raises questions about a listing photo, we investigate and may ask hosts to alter or remove photos associated with their listing," an Airbnb spokesman said.
