Jason Oppenheim, president and founder of the prestigious real estate agency the Oppenheim Group, has recently been hired to represent Kanye West in the sale of his Malibu beachfront estate. While some have criticized Oppenheim’s decision to represent West, given the artist’s controversial recent remarks, some other realtors have stated that it’s not their role to judge their clients based on their personal beliefs. The realtors emphasized that they provide a service and don’t discriminate based on any factors.
L.A. realtors have stressed that it’s simply not realistic to expect people to only work with clients who have views and opinions that align perfectly with their own. They used the example of the Israel-Palestine conflict, questioning whether they should ask potential clients whether they side with Israel or Palestine. The realtors stated that they are in the business of providing a service, not a litmus test for political views.
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One realtor in L.A. didn’t agree with this perspective, saying, “You can’t compare someone who has hateful, antisemitic views like Kanye West to someone who has different views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. West’s comments are offensive and harmful. I would never represent someone like him.
Another realtor responded by asking, “What if someone is registered as a Republican? Are we supposed to say we won’t represent them because we don’t agree with their political affiliation? Should we screen all clients based on their political views?”
The conversation quickly turned from religion and politics to other potential factors that could affect a realtor’s decision to represent a client. For example, what if a client has posted offensive content on social media? Or what if a client’s spouse is embroiled in a contentious divorce, and the realtor sides with the spouse? There are many potential scenarios that could create an ethical dilemma.”
Many Realtors found the idea of screening every potential client for red flags impractical and unworkable.”
One realtor, who previously worked as a lawyer, called the idea of judging a client before taking a case “absurd,” adding that it’s “just not realistic.”
Another realtor we interviewed wondered if someone’s opinion on issues like gay marriage could disqualify them from working with a realtor. The realtor asked, “At what point does it become impossible to do business?”
The realtor asked, ‘What if a buyer pays $53 million for Kanye’s Malibu property? Should the realtor not get a commission?’ The realtor continued, ‘If we apply that logic, does that mean a Mercedes dealership shouldn’t sell a car to Kanye?’
We tried communicating with Jason Oppenheim, but could not get a feedback .
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