If you thought your neighbours were annoying for their loud parties and dodgy wheelie bin behaviour, rest assured they’re nothing compared to the people involved in this wild ‘emoji house’ feud.
Credit: Giphy
It all started when Kathryn Kidd, a resident of Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles, was reported by her neighbours for renting her house out for short-term stays e.g. Airbnb – which is illegal in the area she lives.
“I did a four-day short-term rent and got fined $US4000,” she told Easy Reader. “Now I only do long-term rentals. I didn’t realise it was illegal.”
But the drama didn’t end there.
Kidd responded to the backlash from her neighbours by not only painting her house hot pink, but by commissioning an artist to paint two huge emojis on front-facing exterior wall. One is the emoji with a zipped up mouth, and the other is the emoji with crossed eyes and it’s tongue out. What’s important here is that both emojis include the addition of long eyelashes.
Very weird flex, but okay.
Susan Wieland, Kidd’s neighbour who reported her illegal rental, told Easy Reader she thinks the emojis are a personal attack on her. “I feel like I’ve been directly attacked with my eyelash extensions,” she said. “It’s definitely directed. I had them done here in Manhattan Beach, and they did them way too big. Now it’s painted on the house.”
Credit: Giphy
Wieland told the publication she “wept” when she saw her neighbours house and said, “I feel like I’m being bullied, frankly, by her.”
Kidd denies throwing shade at Wieland with her emoji lashes, telling Easy Reader the house is her “happy house.”
“Instead of everybody being so gloomy, always so depressed, always in other people’s business, I just wanted to send a message to be happy, be colourful, be positive, and enjoy,” she said.
The artist who painted the ~elegant~ emojis posted a photo of his work, with the since-deleted caption, “Are your neighbours constantly ratting you out? Have they cost you thousands in fines? Have you wanted to tell them off lately? Why risk a case, when you can hire me to paint them a pretty message? No verbal confrontations, speedy turnaround, open to photorealism and custom emojis. Hit the dm for a free quote today.”
According to the Times, Kidd’s concerned neighbours plan to have their say on her new paint job at the next city council meeting.
And just like that your petty neighbours look like utter angels.