RAREculture interview questions

The interview process was unprofessional and strange. After a month long process that included a phone screening, skills test, and an in-person interview, I was offered a position as their industrial designer (with a formal offer-letter). This however, was short lived. In between my offer and my start date, RAREculture assigned me work as a freelancer. During one of my assignments, it was eluded in an email that a wouldn't be receiving compensation. I sent back an email kindly but clearly explaining I would not work for free. I promptly received an email back. The email began by apologizing for the payment "misunderstanding" and that because "none of my references got back to them" they had decided to rescind my offer letter. In complete disbelief, I reached out to my references. One hadn't even been contacted and the other had in fact left a voice mail to my hiring manager at RAREculture. When I confronted my manager with afterwards and asked for an actual explanation, she said it was because I have a "highly-assertive personality" and wouldn't be a good fit. In summary: I sent a reminder that I require compensation, had my offer letter rescinded, and was then lied to about why.