A South African tourist has been hospitalized in Amsterdam after being pushed down a flight of stairs in Amsterdam by her Airbnb host.
Filmmaker Sibalhe Nkumbi, who is studying in Europe, was in Amsterdam reviewing a friend’s art exhibition when the incident – which was caught on camera – happened on Saturday.
She was leaving her Airbnb late when the host got angry and threw her down the stairs. He had been summoned by his wife.
In the video, he can be heard shouting “Out, out”, before pushing her down the stairs.
“We knew we were late,” she said in a video posted to Youtube today, after being discharged from hospital. “We heard the bell ring. The lady was clearly upset. . . she said that is not acceptable, you have to pack up and leave now. I apologized profusely for our delay.
Nkumbi says she and her companions were leaving when the woman returned with her husband, who was visibly angry and, she said, violent.
“I remember asking, ‘Why are you so emotional, we’re leaving,'” she said.
She says he called them “you people” and said “you’re not the queen you think you are…this isn’t Africa.
“Anyone of color who reads this and has witnessed racist attacks, you know when it happens to you,” she says. “And the abuser always makes sure he says something vague…so he can’t prove anything.
“If it had been a white person, I can guarantee you it would have turned out differently.”
She says she decided not to say anything and was leaving quietly, when the man moved to grab her as she passed him on the stairs. She realized he was about to knock her down.
“As I was clinging to the wall he was trying to get me into his position and eventually I lost my grip and that’s when I flew.”
She says he had tried to do the same to his colleague, but she grabbed hold of the banister and told him not to touch her.
“I don’t remember how it happened,” she said. “I woke up in the hospital, in pain. And then I got the video of the story. Everyone was panicking, the police came to question me.
Nkumbi says she suffered a concussion, has a big bump on the back of her head and is bruised on her face and body. In the video, she shows large bruises all over her arms which she says were caused by the man’s grip.
“I come from South Africa where you would expect it because the racism is visible,” she tells the camera. “But coming here and being attacked like that, I didn’t expect it at all. I’m actually quite disappointed… People are people.
The Independent contacted one of Nkumbi’s traveling companions, but did not get a response. Another band member said Live Hours that they had been instructed not to speak to the media.
Airbnb could not confirm the arrest of the man in the video, but Director of Diversity and Belonging David King told The Independent: “No one should ever be treated like this and it won’t be. not tolerated”.
He added: “Appalling and unacceptable behavior against members of our community goes against everything Airbnb stands for. Our CEO, Brian Chesky, and I are reaching out to affected guests. We will take the strongest possible action against such heinous conduct, including banning people for life from our platform and assisting law enforcement with their investigation and possible prosecution.”
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