Influencer Sean Davis’s ideal stay at one of California’s most famous Airbnb properties became an expensive nightmare. A mirror selfie taken inside the property was accused of violating the rental’s commercial photography agreement, and the guest was hit with a $10,000 fine. Unexpected charges resulted from the photo being reshared after it was uploaded to Instagram and labeled with a brand. No professional photo session was conducted inside the residence, according to Davis, who describes the encounter as “a complete nightmare.” Discussions over Airbnb’s fine print and the dangers of creating material for premium properties have been triggered by the occurrence.
After a guest was fined $10,000 for taking a restroom picture, the Invisible House, a popular Airbnb offering in the California desert, grabbed news.
On TikTok, influencer Sean Davis recounted his experience, saying that a friend’s girlfriend’s casual mirror selfie activated the property’s commercial photography rule. The hosts deemed the Instagram photo, which was marked with a brand, to be a commercial use of the venue because it was later reshared.
Sean captioned his video, “We got shook down for 10,000 dollars over a selfie tagging a brand that wasn’t even mine, and we didn’t tell them we were taking some pictures outside.”
He explained that the selfie was not a part of any sponsored campaign and that no brand photo session was done inside the property. In spite of this, the hosts claimed breach of contract and sought an extra $10,000.
In reality, we didn’t produce any brand-related content on-site. In a subsequent tweet, Sean wrote, “We took a picture outside, but they had a problem with a selfie.”
According to the influencer, the hotel “looks cool, but is a complete nightmare” because of its stringent regulations and unforeseen fees, so she advised others not to book it.
Concerning the Real Estate: The Invisible House
The Invisible House is a magnificent 5,500-square-foot mirrored mansion that fits in perfectly with the desert surroundings, just a short drive from Joshua Tree National Park. The house was constructed by American Psycho and Spring Breakers creators Chris and Roberta Hanley. It has the following features:
Four sleeping quarters
A 100-foot indoor pool heated by solar
Private entry to the summit of a mountain
Value estimate: $18 million
Celebrities including Demi Lovato, Diplo, and Lizzo have stayed at the property, which has been highlighted on Netflix’s World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals.
The More Important Question: Are Airbnb Regulations Increasingly Strict?
Discussions concerning Airbnb’s fine print, particularly the provisions pertaining to photography and multimedia production, have been triggered by this occurrence. The distinction between personal and business use is getting more hazy as more tourists record their travels on social media.
