A black man in Arizona claimed that a hotel kicked him and his brother out after staff allegedly told them they did not feel safe around them.
The man shared a video outside the Hyatt Place in Scottsdale, Arizona, advising viewers not to stay there if they visit the state. He claimed that hotel staff told him and his brother they could not stay at the property because they were black.
The man alleged that hotel staff told him they did not feel safe around them. He then claimed that the staff called police, while he filmed a parked police vehicle outside the hotel. The video also showed his brother walking ahead of him while pulling a bag behind him.
The man also claimed that the hotel manager told him she did not feel safe with him and his brother staying at the property. He appeared to be left in disbelief, saying that he had never experienced anything like it in his life. “Please never stay here, guys,” he said before again advising viewers not to stay at the hotel. His allegations have not been independently verified.
Hotels may have the right to refuse a guest check-in or ask someone to leave when staff have a legitimate and reasonable concern about safety, particularly if a person is behaving aggressively, making threats, causing disturbances, or otherwise creating a credible risk to employees or other guests.
However, hotels generally cannot use safety concerns as a pretext for unlawful discrimination based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, sex, disability, or national origin. The specific rules vary by jurisdiction, and a hotel’s decision may also be subject to its booking terms and applicable local laws. In situations where staff believe a guest poses an immediate safety threat, they may also contact security or law enforcement rather than allowing the situation to escalate.
Viewers Agree With Arizona Hotel Over Alleged Claims
The video sparked reactions online. Many viewers sided with the hotel over the alleged decision to deny the black Arizona man and his brother a stay. Some commenters argued that the decision may have been related to their alleged behavior rather than their race. “It’s because you’re loud and obnoxious. You like to game the system instead of playing by the rules. You are an embarrassment, shame on you,” one person wrote. Another commenter said, “You can’t get better advertising than this. Hyatt should buy this video from him and play it as Super Bowl Commercial.”
Others questioned the man’s account and speculated that there may have been additional circumstances behind the hotel’s decision. “Sounds like there is more to this story. They are in Arizona I guess …. I don’t believe for one second they refused them that room simply for being black. They had to have given them a reason to be suspicious. Maybe they saw a gun or something. Maybe it was an attitude. Could of seen something else. What hotels call the cops on someone for no reason? I’d like to see the encounter. A lot of these claims of racism like that, there is usually more to it,” one person wrote. Another commenter added, “There is literally no better reason to kick someone out of your establishment.”
The video sparked a conversation about whether hotels should be allowed to refuse service or ask guests to leave when staff believe there is a legitimate safety concern. It also led to broader discussion about the importance of hearing both sides of a dispute before reaching conclusions, particularly when allegations of discrimination are made online without additional context or independent verification.
