American Woman in Accuses Real Estate Agent of Discrimination and Hate Campaign

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Kechi Emelike, an American woman of African descent and resident of Playa del Carmen, has filed a formal complaint against a local real estate agent, alleging harassment, discrimination, and a targeted hate campaign that she says began after she declined to rent a property through the agent.

Emelike, accompanied by her attorney and members of the local Afro-American community, held a press conference this week to bring public attention to her case. She identified the agent as Mimi Santana and accused her of launching a sustained campaign of online harassment, including the unauthorized publication of Emelike’s personal information.

The dispute reportedly began after Emelike initially agreed to rent a property located at Calle 54 and Avenida 10 in the Luis Donaldo Colosio neighborhood. After viewing the property, she decided it was not what she expected and opted to rent elsewhere. Emelike claims that Santana became upset over the lost rental commission and began harassing her online.

According to Emelike, when she vacated the unit, she inadvertently left behind a suitcase containing valuable items, including her DJ equipment and other electronics, which she estimates are worth more than 300,000 pesos. She says attempts to retrieve the belongings were unsuccessful and that the items were never returned.

Following the incident, Emelike alleges that Santana began posting defamatory and discriminatory content on social media, targeting not only her but also the broader Afro-American community in Playa del Carmen. Her personal details, including passport information and phone number, were allegedly published without consent.

“This entire situation stems from the agent being upset about not receiving a commission,” said her lawyer, who added that Emelike filed a formal complaint with the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) on April 24. The complaint included charges of harassment and invasion of privacy, which led authorities to issue restraining measures.

Despite these legal protections, Emelike and her attorney say the harassment has continued. They now plan to return to the FGE to file additional complaints, including one for violating the court-ordered protective measures, another for discrimination, and a third for the alleged theft of her property.

Emelike’s legal representative also noted that other members of the Afro-American community have begun receiving threatening or harassing messages, suggesting that the campaign has expanded beyond a personal dispute.

The case raises concerns about racial discrimination and the safety of foreign residents in Playa del Carmen, a popular destination for expats and digital nomads. Emelike and her supporters are urging authorities to take stronger action to protect the rights of marginalized communities and ensure that incidents of discrimination and hate are not tolerated.