You would think that anti-Welsh discrimination was fairly rare, but sometimes it does happen, as evidenced by this story of an Airbnb host rejecting a request from two guests because they are from Wales.
Jemma Louise Gough, 38, and Jamie Lee Watkins, 37, from Cwmbran, Torfaen, booked a stay in Manchester ahead of watching Australian DJ Sonny Fodera at the Co-op Live Arena this November.
In their booking, the friends told the Airbnb host that they were coming from Wales, and were then shocked to find their payment immediately refunded and their booking request declined.
When they asked the host why, she replied: “Because you’re from WALES.”
Full marks for transparency I guess. Airbnb has now suspended the host while it investigates, stating that discrimination “has no place on Airbnb”.
Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Jemma said “my flabber had never been so gasted”. Would’ve gone with “my gob has never been so smacked”, personally.
Jemma said: “When I heard that my mouth hit the floor, utter shock. It was pure discrimination of where we are from.
“I am so proud to be Welsh and that’s why I decided to speak out about what happened to us. I want to challenge these narrow views.”
What makes it even crazier is that the host is/was a verified Airbnb “superhost”, which requires maintaining a 4.8 or higher overall rating. I’m guessing none of their previous guests were from Wales?
Jemma added: “I don’t know what the entire country has done to her but we’re so confused, we’ve had no answers.”
It could be anything, really. Maybe they were bullied by a Welsh person at school? Maybe they had a romantic disappointment with one? Maybe they just don’t like the Welsh accent or language? Or maybe it’s just that classic UK tradition of considering anyone who lives any further than the next town over as an inbred savage. It really doesn’t matter why because racists are racist, because they just are. Simple.
In a statement, Airbnb said: “As soon as this report was brought to our attention, we reached out to the guest to provide our support and suspended the host while we investigate this matter.”
Oh well, I’m sure the girls managed to sort out alternate accommodation for the gig in November. Have fun, ladies!
For the Airbnb host who sent a guest’s wife footage of him with another woman after he left a negative review, click HERE. Savage stuff.
