Photo courtesy of Airbnb.
An Airbnb host based in North Carolina has been banned from the short-term rental service following a troubling incident involving a racial slur, the Associated Press reported.
The host, identified as Todd Warner, purportedly called the unidentified black female renter the N-word after canceling her stay.
The woman was originally approved to stay at the North Carolina property.
According to the AP, Airbnb spokeswoman Courtney O'Donnell said the San Francisco-based company was "horrified" by the online messages the woman's friend Shani Taylor posted to a blog.
O'Donnell also told the AP that Airbnb has since offered the woman support, guaranteeing her a safe rental.
READ MORE: Does Airbnb Have a Discrimination Problem?
"I was absolutely appalled," Airbnb's global head of policy Chris Lehane told CBS News. "It was just outrageous."
Lehane said the company took "immediate action" and has "a zero tolerance policy on any type of activity like this."
The disturbing incident comes in the wake of a lawsuit filed against Airbnb alleging racial discrimation. Last month, Gregory Seldon sued the company in Washington, D.C. for a violation of his rights under the Civil Rights and Fair Housing Acts.
Like many other Airbnb users who've taken to social media with the hashtag #AirbnbWhileBlack, Seldon says he was denied a rental because of his skin color.
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