In September 2022, a man named Shawn Mackey rented an Airbnb home in Memphis, Tennessee, from a host named Pamela Fohler. The house cost about $567 per night, and at first everything seemed normal. But during the stay, a disagreement started between Mackey and the host over claims of extra guests and noise at the property.
After the trip ended, Fohler sent Mackey a bill asking for an extra $960 in fines. Mackey believed the charges were unfair and refused to pay them. He also left a negative review online about his experience at the Airbnb.
According to Mackey’s lawsuit, the situation then became much more serious. He claimed Fohler sent him a message containing a doorbell camera image showing him arriving at the house at around 3 a.m. with a woman who was not his wife. In the message, she allegedly threatened to send the photos and videos to his wife if he did not pay the money.
Mackey said he still refused to pay the fines. Later, he claimed the photo was sent to his wife using a fake email address pretending to be him. The incident reportedly caused major problems in his marriage and personal life.
Mackey later filed a lawsuit against both Airbnb and Fohler, accusing them of extortion, invasion of privacy, emotional distress, and damage to his marriage. Airbnb removed his review and reportedly warned that his account could be terminated. In December, Fohler denied sending the email and filed her own counterclaim.
