A Jamaican business owner who leases small cottages as short-term rentals to tourists has said she will be blocking “Black Americans” from renting from her in the future.

The owner said she rents to people from all over the world but has had difficulty with most of her Black American clientele. She categorized them as “Disrespectful, entitled, unappreciative” and said the reason they are is because they have been spoiled and given too much “free shit” in America.

She complained that they started fights with each other late at night and said they expected the same treatment in Jamaica that they receive in America, “they think that they can come to Jamaica and can get the same free shit here, and they are nasty about it.” She continued making it clear that she is not saying all Black Americans are the same.

https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1661191693260165121?s=20

The owner, who goes by thebarefootislandlady on Instagram, said many business people are miserable because of their clientele, but she was not going to allow bad customers to do that to her. “I’m not risking my health and my happiness for people, no short-term stay, no short-term stay. It is not going to happen here. She continued, “I would rather eat salt and bananas and let goats and cows into my house than have you come in and disrespect it. I would not hate my business because of customers. A lot of business people are miserable because of their customers, not this place.”

She ended her statement by saying, “My place is drama-free.” Her video garnered nearly 5,000 likes and almost 1,000 comments. While she took a lot of criticism from followers who said she was stereotyping and should be more open-minded, she also had many defend her position. Some argue that there is a different level of respect shown when you stay on someone’s property. Some said they would unfollow her Instagram feed as a result, and she encouraged them to do so.

She responded to much of the criticism with the same message, pointing out that she does not want or need business from guests that cause her “headaches”, stating that other hosts have experienced the same issue with travelers.

She followed up with a post saying she is receiving harsh criticism but would post her video one hundred more times if she could and is not going to apologize “I’m not sorry.” She said she has the right to free speech and will not be bullied.  She said those complaining are the clientele she hopes to weed out, “My peace is more important than your frickin’ opinion.”