A New York City real estate broker allegedly sent a racist text about prospective tenants to a property owner, only to accidentally include one of the would-be renters in the conversation.
uncertain
broker → send → conversation
The couple has since sued the broker, identified as Helen Tzelios, real estate giant Douglas Elliman and several property owners over the encounter.
asserted
couple → sue → encounter
The incident unfolded before the pair even stepped inside the Queens apartment they hoped to rent, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Mail.
uncertain
they → unfold → Mail
'Ugh they are black,' read the message allegedly sent by the agent, who had spotted the couple arriving for a viewing in Flushing.
uncertain
couple → read → Flushing
Lisa Renee Olaso and her fiancé, Cyril Christopher, had relocated from Delaware in June after Olaso landed a new job and were excited about moving into an apartment on 26th Avenue.
asserted
Olaso → relocate → Avenue
They had arranged to meet a Douglas Elliman broker at the property, but the agent allegedly saw them from a distance and sent the text before ever introducing herself.
uncertain
agent → arrange → herself
Olaso was mistakenly included in the exchange, which she said was intended for the property owner.
asserted
she → include → owner
'As we were getting out of the car, I received the text message that said, "Ugh they are black,"' Olaso said in a press conference.
asserted
Olaso → get → conference
'Ugh they are Black,' read the message allegedly sent by the agent, who had spotted the couple arriving for a viewing in Flushing
uncertain
couple → read → Flushing
The couple has now taken legal action against Douglas Elliman Realty, Tzelios, and several individuals listed as owners of the property
Stunned by what she had read, Olaso immediately told Christopher to get back inside their car.
asserted
Olaso → take → car
She then confronted Tzelios about the message, prompting a bogus explanation that allegedly involved previous Black tenants in the neighborhood.
uncertain
that → confront → neighborhood
'When she looked at her phone, she started to explain that there were previous Black tenants in the neighborhood and that they had caused a lot of trouble,' Olaso said.
asserted
Olaso → look → trouble
The couple has now taken legal action against Douglas Elliman Realty, Tzelios and several individuals listed as owners of the property.
asserted
couple → take → property
Their attorney, Kenneth Mollins, believes the exchange raises questions about whether the alleged discrimination went beyond the agent herself.
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discrimination → believe → agent
He argued that the wording of the message suggested the intended recipient would have understood why the couple's race was being mentioned.
uncertain
race → argue → message
'Unless the person receiving the text gets it in some context to know why she's sending that.
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she → receive → that
So, we believe the homeowner was in some way responsible here,' Mollins said.
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Mollins → believe → way
Douglas Elliman has since confirmed that Tzelios is no longer with the company, while condemning discrimination of any kind in a statement to the Daily Mail.
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Tzelios → confirm → Mail
'Douglas Elliman has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind.
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Elliman → have → kind
The agent is no longer with the company,' the statement said.
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statement → say → company
The couple has since sued the broker, identified as Helen Tzelios, real estate giant Douglas Elliman and several property owners over the encounter.
asserted
couple → sue → encounter
Christopher said the experience was particularly painful because the agent appeared to have judged them without knowing anything about who they were.
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they → say → anything
'It's like judging a book by its cover.
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It → judge → cover
You haven't even read the book, and you already made a judgement call,' he said.
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he → read → call
Olaso said Tzelios tried to apologize, but said the damage had already been done.
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damage → say → ?
'It doesn't change the pain.
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It → change → pain
It doesn't take away the pain that you caused us that day,' she added.
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she → take → us
The Daily Mail reached out to Tzelios for comment but did not immediately hear back.
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Mail → reach → comment
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