Man Files Lawsuit Against Airbnb Host Claiming She Sent Pictures Of Him With Another Woman To His Wife

Let this be a lesson to anyone renting an Airbnb in hopes of keeping their side action away from their significant other.  The property could be equipped with security cameras and images of you with the person who is not your partner could also be emailed to your partner.

That's what Shawn Mackey is claiming happened to him in a lawsuit he filed last September, after he left a bad review following a stay at an Airbnb.  Mackey, who is from Mississippi, booked a stay from September 9 to 11 in Tennessee with "superhost" Pamela Fohler.

Screenshot from security camera footage sent to a man's wife showing him with another woman. (Image Credit: Mississippi District Court via NY Post)

He booked Fohler's three-bedroom, two-bath home for a total of four guests.  There was an understanding between Mackey and Fohler that he might invite additional people over for what he called a "very low key" dinner.

Naturally, a disagreement over the number of guests allowed soon started between the two, with Fohler warning of additional costs associated with additional guests.  The situation progressed to the point where Mackey was asked to leave.

"I am very sorry but you have violated the no party rule, disturbed my neighbors by cursing and yelling in the parking lot, and have unauthorized guests," the lawsuit says Fohler wrote.  "I am asking you to leave now.  I can’t allow you to stay, I am sorry."

The Airbnb Superhost Has Been Accused Of Emailing A Picture Of The Guest And A Woman To The Guest's Wife

Mackey, instead of leaving, called Fohler and spoke with her husband.  He finished his stay and believed that the misunderstanding was behind him.  That's when he decided to leave a negative review asking for a partial refund.

The refund was denied and his troubles with the superhost, according to the lawsuit, resumed.  A back-and-forth between Mackey and Fohler led to him being hit with a bill from Airbnb for $960.

That amount included a $160 fine for four extra guests, $500 for violating two house rules and $300 for the "moderation" of his negative review.  When he refused to pay, an email was sent to his wife that included a screenshot of him with a woman who was not his wife.

Mackey is suing Airbnb and Fohler for invading his privacy, inflicting him with emotional distress and causing "damage" to his marriage.

I'm no legal scholar, but this sounds like a classic case of playing with fire and getting burned.  That doesn't mean that he should have had the screenshot sent to his wife.

That seems like a dirty move no matter what the circumstances are surrounding the situation.  It goes without saying that this one will have to be resolved with legal representation.