A toxic rental war between two US roommates has erupted online after a leaseholder told her subletter she was pulling the plug on their apartment.
Emily Dukes, 30, posted a viral 30-part video series from her fire escape claiming she was left traumatised and blindsided when her housemate, Marlyn Rodriguez, refused to renew their lease.
But the eviction dispute took a bitter turn when Ms Rodriguez hit back on social media with a blunt five-word reality check for her flatmate.
“I don’t owe you s**t,” Ms Rodriguez said.
“The real issue is that the rent increased and now you need to qualify for the lease yourself, and that is not my problem. That’s just how New York renting goes.”
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Emily Dukes (pictured) virally called out her roommate, Marlyn Rodriguez, in a TikTok rant that’s now divided social media. Picture: @cozygrocery/TikTok
Rodriguez (pictured) clapped back at Dukes, saying she doesn’t owe her “s – t,” and chiding her for attempting to mislead folks online. Picture: @marlynlikethefish/TikTok
The dispute began after just one month of living together in New York City, when Ms Rodriguez informed Ms Dukes that she would not be signing a new agreement for July.
Ms Dukes, a full-time artist and newcomer to the city, claimed to her followers that she was being kicked out with absolutely no prior notice, leaving her facing homelessness.
Recording most of her rants, Ms Dukes’ videos quickly racked up more than 4.6 million views.
She received nearly $7,200 ($US5000) from supporters who’ve since donated to her GoFundMe account, which will assist with her relocation fees or cover a new security deposit.
During one video, Ms Dukes sobbed to her camera while quoting a speech given by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani about housing stress and struggling to make rent.
What is New York if not your back is up against the wall, your dream just out of reach, unsure how you’ll make your next rent payment ,” Ms Dukes told her audience.
“Looking at those 99.6 per cent odds that are against you and smiling because in that 0.4 per cent New Yorkers find a way.”
The internet is taken sides in the roommate debate, with many finding Dukes at fault. Picture: @cozygrocery/TikTok
Virtual commentators congratulated Rodriguez on “dodging a bullet” and severing roommate ties with Dukes. Picture: Instagram/marlynlikethefish
However, the drama soon sparked a fierce backlash among local viewers who turned on the artist for requesting cash handouts.
“Get a job,” critics wrote beneath the posts, scolding her for crowdsourcing funds and sympathy, without earning a steady income.
“NYers also hustle like multiple jobs. Idk if that’s still an option here,” one local resident wrote.
Another commenter, who identified as an artist who had experienced homelessness in the city, advised Ms Dukes to put her pride aside.
“I have walked dogs, cleaned toilets, run errands for a vindictive architect, babysat for difficult kids, cleaned filthy apartments and worse,” they said.
Other onlookers rebuked Ms Dukes for attempting to leverage a political speech for her personal roommate dispute, with one critic labelling her actions as entitled.
In contrast, Ms Rodriguez received an outpouring of support from commentators who agreed she handled the situation correctly.
“You dodged a bullet by not signing that lease,” praised a commenter.
“Glad you are able to leave this drama. Congrats on your new apartment!!” raved another after Rodriguez revealed her new place and new roommate online.
“Girl, I had a roommate just like her and, all I’m gonna say is I’m so sorry,” another said.
Rodriguez shared that she’s secured a new roommate and a new apartment in Manhattan. Instagram/marlynlikethefish
The fast-moving saga ended in a bizarre twist when Ms Dukes successfully negotiated with the landlord to take over the lease herself using her GoFundMe donations.
Dubbed “fire escape girl” by critics, Ms Dukes has since issued a public video apology for oversharing the private dispute online.
“I fully take ownership — none of this would have happened had I not come to social media in the first place,” Ms Dukes said.
She added that she worked as a part-time photographer and videographer and had always paid her bills on time.
“I fully recognise how tone deaf it came across by setting up the GoFundMe. I didn’t consider that and I should have.”
Ms Dukes promised to donate a portion of the unspent crowd-funding money to local charities supporting mental health issues and the unhoused.
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