Black Couple Sues NYC Broker After 'Ugh They Are Black' Text Meant for Landlord Lands on Their Phone Instead

A Black couple have sued Douglas Elliman Realty after an agent allegedly sent them an ‘Ugh. They are Black’ text meant for a Queens landlord as they arrived to view a NYC rental flat (Credit: Ali Mkumbwa/Unsplash)

A Black couple have sued one of New York's biggest estate agencies after receiving a text that read 'Ugh. They are Black' from a broker who was supposed to be showing them a rental flat in Queens.

Lisa Renee Olaso and her fiancé, Cyril Christopher, say the message was meant for the property owner and arrived just as they stepped out of their car to view the home. They have filed a lawsuit in Queens against Douglas Elliman Realty, the agent and the property owners, alleging violations of state and federal anti-discrimination laws.