Chesky also addressed the crowd. “People thought this idea was crazy—they literally said strangers are never going to stay in other strangers’ homes, and I said yes, they will, Mom,” he shared, drawing laughter from the crowd. “This idea that people thought was crazy completely took off and has grown into a community of guests and hosts all over the world.”
In 2012, an Airbnb host named Shell took the concept a step further, opening her home to people displaced by Hurricane Sandy. “This wasn’t our idea, this is an idea that came from the community, and that was the beginning of what would become Airbnb.org,” Chesky explained.
Between speeches, servers brought out a beet and citrus salad atop a bed of goat cheese cream, followed by the main course: Wagyu beef with mashed potatoes and carrots—courtesy of Michelin-starred chef and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés.
Charlize Theron was next to take the mic, highlighting Airbnb.org’s efforts to provide temporary housing for survivors of domestic violence, a cause particularly poignant to the actress, who grew up in a household terrorized by her late alcoholic father. “One of the hardest parts of leaving is not just deciding to leave, it’s having somewhere to go. People stay in danger for one reason more than any other reason, and that’s because the alternative is nowhere,” she shared. “A mother with two kids and no address does the math, and she decides to go back. South Africa, my home country, has some of the highest rates of domestic violence in the world. My foundation, CTAOP, has spent the last 20 years working with young people and the lesson we’ve learned has never changed—you cannot heal, you cannot learn, you cannot work, and you cannot make plans for life if you don’t feel safe.”
After the coconut ice cream and grapefruit sorbet were served, the evening’s surprise performer, Charli xcx, was spotted heading backstage to prepare for her set. Moments later, the Grammy-winning artist emerged through a haze of smoke, with moody lighting setting the scene. It didn’t take long for the crowd to get on their feet, dancing along to hits like “Guess” and “Apple.” Front and center was Lee, showing off her moves alongside her husband, Russ Armstrong. Across the way, Quen Blackwell and Jaden Smith were letting loose too.
As the night drew to a close, Kimmel reminded the audience that Airbnb’s new funding model begins right now, with a portion of every future stay routed toward the foundation’s efforts.
