Racist Airbnb host and Trump supporter ordered to take course in Asian American studies

An Airbnb host who cancelled a woman's reservation minutes before she arrived at the property because she discovered she was Asian has been ordered to take a course in Asian American studies.

When Dyne Suh, 26, was just minutes away from arriving at a mountain cabin she had booked for a skiing weekend with friends in Big Bear, California, her Airbnb host Tami Barker cancelled the reservation with a racist comment.

"I wouldn't rent it to u if u were the last person on earth. One word says it all. Asian," Barker wrote in a message to Suh.

When Suh said she planned to file a complaint with Airbnb about the racist remark, Barker replied: "It's why we have Trump ... and I will not allow this country to be told what to do by foreigners."

After the incident, Suh shared an emotional video online. "I just feel so hurt. People thought: 'Oh, with the election of President Obama racism is over in this country.' No, it's very much alive, it exists and it could happen to anyone," she said.

"It stings that after living in the US for over 23 years this is what happens. No matter if I follow the law ... no matter how well I treat others, it doesn't matter. If you're Asian, you're less than human and people can treat you like trash."

Airbnb banned Barker from using the website after Suh shared her experience.

Barker was charged $5,000 (£3,863) in damages for racial discrimination and ordered to enroll on a college-level course in Asian American studies by the California department of fair employment and housing (DFEH), a regulator working with Airbnb to penalise hosts for racial bias.

Barker is the first Airbnb host to be penalised for racial discrimination. In addition to paying the fine and completing the course, she must apologise in person to Suh, volunteer with a civil rights organisation and take part in a community education panel.

The host's lawyer, Edward Lee, said his client was "regretful for her impetuous actions and comments" but pleased to have resolved the issue with Suh "in a manner that can hopefully bring a positive outcome out of an unfortunate incident."

An Airbnb host in Amsterdam was arrested on 8 July after video footage showed him pushing a South African woman headfirst down a flight of stairs. The woman's friends claim the attack was racist.

Airbnb was contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.