Airbnb paid a female tourist $7M for maintaining silence on the settlement of a rape case that happened at the New York property in 2016. In return for the payout, the woman agreed on not suing the company or implies responsibility or liability on the host of the property or Airbnb.
As per the report, an Australian traveler was attacked on New Year’s Eve in 2015 in New York City. The victim took the keys of the property from a nearby shop that evening, and the report suggests that the suspect had made duplicate keys to the apartment.
Before the female traveler arrived at the apartment, the suspect hid inside the bathroom. The suspect allegedly held the woman at knifepoint and raped her. The man who raped the Airbnb guest has been charged with predatory sexual assault. The police found the man guilty after they found the keys of Airbnb property in his possession.
A spokesperson for Airbnb told VICE News in an email that their company immediately reached out to the New York Police Department after the incident and helped them in the investigation. Airbnb also got the woman a hotel and arranged a flight for her mother from Australia. The spokesperson in her mail also stated that in sexual assault cases, survivors could freely speak about their experiences which include the NYC case.
Later Airbnb also flew both the woman and her mother back to Australia. They also offered to cover health care and counseling, while the settlement was made two years later. The man who was charged with sexual assault has been deemed mentally unfit and has also pleaded not guilty but is still in custody.
