Where was my invite to the - wait, what? Airbnb had a gala?

Airbnb’s nonprofit organization held its first gala on Wednesday in Los Angeles, an event that drew a wave of online confusion over why the home-sharing company was hosting a red-carpet affair at all. The nonprofit, which Airbnb launched in 2020, provides free and temporary housing to families affected by crisis or disaster. According to a press release Airbnb shared this week, the gala also served as the launch of a new fundraising initiative for the nonprofit.

Under that initiative, Airbnb will begin donating a portion of its commercial revenue from every stay booked, starting with bookings made from October 28, the day of the gala. The cut amounts to 10 cents per stay. Airbnb reported $12.2 billion in revenue last year, and the company said the effort will generate $500 million for the nonprofit over the next five years.

That money is intended to help the nonprofit provide free housing for 1 million nights each year, according to the release. The funding will also allow the nonprofit to expand its support to families facing displacement due to domestic violence, veterans in need, and people traveling for medical needs.

A spokesperson for Airbnb said the evening was held for the nonprofit’s supporters and marked the next chapter of its work. The spokesperson said attendees had the option to donate, but fundraising was not the focus of the night and no fundraising target was set. The company intends for the gala to become an annual event; this year’s gathering was invite-only, and no tables or seats were sold.

Jimmy Kimmel hosted the event, Charli XCX gave a live performance, and Chef José Andrés of World Central Kitchen curated the food. The guest list included Serena Williams, Demi Lovato, Charlize Theron, and Cynthia Erivo. For those celebrities, the night placed the Airbnb event alongside other Los Angeles gatherings such as the Baby2Baby Gala and the Academy Museum Gala as a place to be seen.

Even so, social media users reacted with widespread puzzlement over the existence of an Airbnb gala and over how the company had attracted top-tier celebrities. The event also brought attention to the nonprofit’s housing work, a contrast to the negative press Airbnb has drawn over its impact on the housing market.

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