After much support for a Black hotel guest who alleged management at a Portland, Ore., hotel racially profiled him, the DoubleTree Hotel has revealed the employees involved have been fired.
“We have terminated the employment of the two men involved in the mistreatment of Mr. Massey. Their actions were inconsistent with our standards & values. We reiterate our sincere apology for what he endured & will work with diversity experts to ensure this never happens again,” the hotel said in a statement tweeted Saturday, Dec. 29.
A four-part statement tweeted a day earlier revealed the hotel is reaching out to the affected guest, Jermaine Massey in hopes of resolving the issue. Additionally, an investigation has been launched, during which the involved employees were placed on leave.
“We sincerely apologize to Mr. Massey for his treatment this past weekend, and deeply regret the experience he endured. It was unacceptable and contrary to our values, beliefs and how we seek to treat all people who visit our hotel,” the DoubleTree said. “We have a zero-tolerance stance on discrimination of any kind, and do not tolerate behavior of that nature.
“We are seeking the counsel of community leaders, and will engage a third-party to conduct a full investigation into the incident – reviewing our internal processes, protocols and trainings to ensure we are creating and maintaining a safe space for everyone,” the statement continued. “The employees involved have since been placed on leave for the duration of this investigation, and we will take the appropriate measures to ensure this does not happen again.”
Massy went viral a week ago when he posted several videos on Instagram detailing the encounter at the Hilton-owned hotel in Portland, Ore. He came into town to see a Travis Scott concert on Dec. 22.
“Tonight, I was racially profiled and discriminated against for taking a phone call in the lobby of my hotel room,” he said in a Dec. 23 post. “The security guard ‘Earl’ decided he would call the police on me, the exact reason is still unclear to me.”
Massy, who had a room key in his hand, received a call from his mother, who lives on the East Coast. Alarmed that she called so late, he took a moment to speak with her in the hotel lobby that night. Upon being approached by a security guard, he took and shared a video of the encounter. Massy explained to his followers that the manager, whom he said was named Luis, called police before asking him what happened.
“He’s calling the cops on me because I’m taking a phone call at the DoubleTree Hotel,” he Massey explained in the clip. “I have not moved, I have been sitting here the whole time and they’re calling the police on me because I’m taking a phone call in the lobby. Did you ask any of those people walking by what room they were staying in? No.”
Police arrived and asked Massey to remove his belongings from his room. He did so with the police accompanying him. Officers from the Portland Police Department later walked Massy, who Officer Richard Harvey described in his report as “a very angry and loud” out from the hotel. Massey wound up taking a Lyft to a hotel near the airport rather than accepting a ride from police.
Many have left remarks in support of Massey in the comments of his headline-making video.
“Never staying in that hotel again …”
“This world disgusts me ..sorry this happened to you.”
“Get that justice!!❤️❤️❤️”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrudBSxFADP/
