You’ve finally arrived at your vacay destination.
You booked this Southernly cute Airbnb and can’t wait to sink into that Pinterest-perfect comfort you’ve been daydreaming about all year. You’re expecting cozy blankets, Architectural Digest-worthy decor, and maybe even a complimentary bottle of wine to unwind.
But what if, instead of relaxation, you walked straight into a scene that feels plucked from a nightmare – one that hurls you back to a darker time in history?
That’s exactly what happened to TikTok star Erica W when she opened the door to an Airbnb only to find herself knee-deep in cotton—and not just any cotton—that horrifying 1800s type!
In a TikTok post shared on July 28th, Erica, who goes by @tasteofmelanin on the platform, shared her unsettling experience at an Airbnb with racist “Southern” undertones. The video revealed some pretty disturbing decor, including bouquets made of cotton, cotton branches, and cotton wreaths hanging on a wall with stuffed monkeys dangling down.
The disturbing, obviously racially-charged motifs were scattered all over the Airbnb – on the walls, TV stand, and other visible spots throughout the house.
“Southern AIRBNB Core,” the beauty and fashion influencer captioned the troubling video.
@tasteofmelaninI-♬ original sound – There I Ruined It
While it’s unclear where the Airbnb was situated, the video also showed a wooden plaque shaped like Virginia, a state with a deep historical legacy of slavery, placed on a mantle beneath a mounted deer head trophy.
Cotton was one of the main crops grown by enslaved people in the South during the 18th and 19th centuries, and monkeys have long been used in bigoted depictions of Black people.
According to the Atlanta Blackstar, Erica W. didn’t stay at the eerie Airbnb rental for long. She reported that she promptly left the home and that the company reached out to her and removed the racist listing from their channels.
But while the listing was taken down, many users say this is just another example of the state of the country we call home.
@lowk3y.briiii replied, “There’s no way it’s just decorated like that … this was done just for y’all.”
‘Not the Get Out sequel set up,’ user @maryjanexx.x wrote.
Another user, @Mango89012, insisted that the Airbnb listing’s choice of decor was “very intentional.”
‘Ya’ll cotton décor is so normalized in the south it gives me anxiety every time,’ another added.
‘Hey! So this is insane,’ someone else wrote. ‘This is wicked,’ said another.
Have you ever had a soul-shaking experience at an Airbnb?
Comment below!
