PUT YOUR PAWS IN THE AIR
Don’t let the bedbugs bite. “Killer and a Sweet Thing” sex blogger and model is fuming at Airbnb, after she says she was devoured by the bloodsucking insects in a rental she checked into last Thursday. Kelly also claims that the dozens of bug bites all over her body and face cost her a modeling job that she was slated to shoot in New York this week. Making matters worse, Kelly (photo) says the Hollywood Blvd. unit where she was chewed up remained available for rental until finally being taken down Wednesday afternoon — nearly a week after her encounter. “At first I thought it was mosquitos,” Kelly told Confidential. She said she arrived to her Airbnb rental in L.A. on Thursday, and after waking up covered in bites, checked into a hotel on Friday. But an Airbnb rep told us that the unit’s owner, identified only as provided the company with documentation showing that an exterminator had deemed there were never bedbugs in the unit and that she had purchased a new mattress just to be safe. For that reason, they said the unit would remain on Airbnb.com. Citing their company’s confidentiality rules, Airbnb declined to show us that document.
However, in a text message exchange obtained by Confidential, Lizz appears to confirm to Kelly that “I had a bug specialist come by this morning and the apt did have mites and bugs.” She added, “I am terribly sorry for this.” Lizz also indicated she’s spent $2,000 dealing with the issue and had asked Airbnb to remove the listing.
Kelly showed us prescriptions for the ointments and meds she said her doctor prescribed to treat the 12 bites on her face and marks that cover both of her arms and legs, as well as her chest. The 22-year-old jet-setter said that the doctor’s visit cost her $250.
The apartment’s owner agreed to refund Kelly’s rental payment and Airbnb offered a $500 reimbursement to cover the suitcase she had to throw away and her medical costs. Kelly said she also ordered a $300 bug zapper to treat the clothes she had in L.A., which are currently wrapped in airtight garbage bags in her Lower East Side apartment.
“It was disgusting,” Kelly said. “I’ll never stay in an Airbnb the rest of my life.”
Kelly is also upset that Airbnb hasn’t posted her review warning future tenants about her encounter. We’re told that Airbnb uses a double-blind rating system where no reviews are posted until both the tenant and landlord have filed their independent writeups and the home’s owner has two weeks to post her review of the tenant.
An Airbnb rep declined to comment further.
Lizz did not return calls for comment. The Limelight has really gone to the dogs. Chelsea’s Jue Lan Club, which occupies the Chelsea building that once housed the Limelight nightclub, is hosting a Friday night party to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Dog and dogs are invited. We’re told the clubstaurant’s owner, will have one menus for humans and another for dogs. Pups are advised to bring a sweater since they’re only allowed in the venue’s garden area.