Leo Sullivan, a Black father whose encounter with a white woman at an apartment complex pool sparked a viral video last week, is now at the center of a response from the company that owns the property.
Arden Living, which owns the apartment complex where Sullivan and his sons were staying, is disputing claims that the confrontation was discriminatory.
In a statement shared with BIN, the company said it has faced “extensive misinformation” and that its employees have been doxxed following the incident. Arden Living said it does not tolerate discrimination and maintains that its staff was enforcing property policies.
The company said Sullivan had acknowledged that guests were required to obtain a pool pass from the front desk before entering the pool area. Arden Living also said CCTV footage shows Sullivan and four other unrelated people at the pool were asked to show identification or a pool pass.
According to the company, Sullivan did not check in at the front desk, obtain a pool pass or provide identification when asked. Arden Living said he identified himself as a tenant, but staff could not verify that he was a guest. The company said authorities were called to help resolve the situation.
Arden Living said its employees were following policies that apply equally to residents and guests and that staff treated Sullivan with “respect and professionalism.”
In BIN’s original report, Sullivan said two white women questioned whether he belonged at the property and demanded that he show identification while he was at the pool with his sons.
Arden Living disputed Sullivan’s characterization of the encounter, saying its employees were enforcing property policies rather than targeting him because of his race. The company also accused Sullivan of escalating the situation and misrepresenting what happened on social media.
The company said the fallout has gone beyond criticism, alleging that employees have been doxxed and that their safety has been put at risk.
Sullivan has not publicly responded to Arden’s Living’s statement.
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