Black couple sues Douglas Elliman, broker and landlords over 'Ugh, they're Black' text at Flushing showing

A Black couple who were about to tour a Queens apartment in June say a text message told them everything about why they would not get it. Now they are suing.

Lisa Renee Olaso and Cyril Christopher filed a housing discrimination lawsuit in state court this week against Douglas Elliman Realty, the agent who was showing the unit, and people listed as owners of the property, a three-bedroom apartment in a home on 26th Avenue in Flushing, Gothamist reported.

What the couple says happened

The couple had just moved from Delaware for Olaso's new job. As they pulled up and began getting out of the car, Olaso received a text from the broker that appeared to be meant for the landlord. The suit quotes it as "Ugh, they're Black"; Olaso recalled it to ABC7 as "Ugh. They are Black." The agent had not met them in person, their lawyer said.

Olaso told ABC7 she showed the broker the message, and the broker responded that previous Black tenants in the neighborhood had caused trouble. The couple declined to see the apartment. The broker later apologized, Olaso said, but she told ABC7 the apology did not take away the pain.

The claims

The suit alleges the message violated the federal Fair Housing Act, according to Gothamist. Their attorney, Kenneth Mollins, told ABC7 he believes the homeowners bear some responsibility, arguing the text would make sense only if the recipient had context for it. Mollins said the couple is not suing for money and wants to show that discrimination still exists in New York.

A Douglas Elliman spokesperson said the firm has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination and that the agent is no longer with the company. The agent and the listed owners did not respond to messages from either outlet. None of the allegations have been tested in court.

The bigger picture

Just 3% of residents of Queens Community District 7, which covers Flushing, Murray Hill and Whitestone, identify as Black, Gothamist noted, citing 2024 census data. The city's fair housing plan, Where We Live NYC, has warned that a tight housing market makes it easier for landlords to discriminate and harder for renters to push back. The couple eventually found a rental in Commack, on Long Island.

New Yorkers who believe they faced housing discrimination can file a complaint with the NYC Commission on Human Rights by calling 311.