NYC woman sobs as she accuses Douglas Elliman realtor of accidentally texting her to say ‘Ugh, they are black’ as she arrived to view rental
A couple in New York City say a real estate broker sent them a text reading “Ugh, they are black” as they arrived to view a rental in Flushing, Queens. They have sued the broker, Douglas Elliman Realty and several people listed as property owners, alleging discrimination.
Lisa Renee Olaso said she was mistakenly included in a message apparently intended for the owner and told her fiancé, Cyril Christopher, to return to their car. Olaso said the broker explained that previous Black tenants had caused trouble; the couple’s lawyer argues the message raises questions about the owner’s role. Douglas Elliman said it has a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination and that the broker is no longer with the company.
In short
- A couple say a broker texted a racist remark as they arrived for a rental viewing.
- They have sued the broker, Douglas Elliman and several property owners.
- The company says the broker is no longer employed there.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The couple’s case is that the message explicitly referred to their race just as they arrived, and that the broker’s reported explanation about previous Black tenants suggests race may have affected how they were treated. They argue the message also warrants scrutiny of whether the owner or others involved in renting the property shared responsibility, which is why they have brought claims against multiple parties.
The case against
The broker or defendants could argue that the reported message and explanation, while offensive, do not by themselves establish what the owner knew or whether each named party was legally responsible for a discriminatory rental decision. They may seek to distinguish the broker’s conduct from the company’s or owners’ actions; the company says it has a zero-tolerance policy and that the broker is no longer employed there.
Explained simply
New York City landlords and their agents must follow fair housing laws, which prohibit discrimination against people seeking to rent a home because of their race. Real estate brokers often arrange viewings and communicate with both prospective tenants and property owners.
Douglas Elliman is a large US estate agency, and the couple say one of its brokers was handling the Flushing rental. Their lawsuit names the broker, the company and people identified as the owners, and alleges that the couple were treated differently because they are Black.
The case concerns who may be responsible when a broker’s conduct could affect access to a rental: the individual agent, the agency, or the property owners. Its outcome could help establish how those responsibilities apply under housing discrimination law.