Black Couple Sues Real Estate Broker Over Racist Text Message

What was supposed to be an exciting new chapter for a couple moving to New York turned into a deeply upsetting experience after they allegedly received a racist text message from the real estate broker who was supposed to show them an apartment.

Lisa Renee Oulasso and her fiancé, Cyril Christopher, had relocated from Delaware after Oulasso secured a new job in New York. As part of their search for a home, they arranged to meet a real estate broker for a viewing of a rental apartment in Queens.

But before they even stepped out of their car, Oulasso received a message that left them stunned.

"Ugh, they're Black," the message read.

"When we got out of the car, I got the message that said, 'Ugh, they're Black,'" Oulasso told ABC7.

She immediately told her fiancé to get back into the car.

The couple, who are both Black, believe the broker had spotted them from a distance and accidentally sent Oulasso a message intended for the apartment's owners.

A Text Message That Led to a Lawsuit

According to Oulasso, when she confronted the broker about the message, the broker explained that there had previously been problems with Black tenants in the area.

For the couple, that explanation only made the situation more hurtful, as they felt they were being judged based on the actions of strangers rather than treated as individuals.

The couple subsequently filed a lawsuit against the 61-year-old broker, who had been working with Douglas Elliman Realty.

The lawsuit alleges violations of the federal Fair Housing Act and the New York City Human Rights Law, both of which prohibit certain forms of discrimination in housing.

According to the complaint, the broker still offered to show the couple the apartment after the message was sent. However, they declined to continue with the viewing, saying they already felt rejected and humiliated by what had happened.

Douglas Elliman Realty has since distanced itself from the broker, stating that it terminated its relationship with her within an hour of being served with the discrimination lawsuit.

The company emphasized that the broker had worked as an independent contractor and that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination of any kind.

"The Apology Doesn't Change the Pain"

Despite the experience, Oulasso and Christopher eventually found a home in Commack, on Long Island.

Speaking to Newsday, Oulasso said they were happy with their new life and that the warm welcome they received in their new community had helped restore some of her faith in New Yorkers.

Nevertheless, the couple decided to speak publicly about what happened.

Oulasso explained that her decision was motivated not only by her own experience but also by thoughts of her son, her nieces and nephews, and the generations who fought for equal opportunities.

For her, remaining silent would mean allowing such treatment to go unchallenged.

"The apology doesn't change the pain. It doesn't erase the pain you caused us that day," she told ABC7.