I am sorry your group feels uneasy about travelling to the Dominican Republic after reading some media stories about a small number of tourists that have sadly died on holiday @Kamesha0 . It is a sad fact that people die everywhere...including on holiday. To put it in context that is 11 people out of the 2.2 million people from the US that travel there every year.
Quite honestly the media stories seems a bit of a storm in a tea-cup. I have to say I am surprised these media stories about a few as yet ,unexplained deaths in a tourist hotel on the island you are travelling to, would want to make some of your group want to cancel. Your own government isn't issuing any travel warnings to the area.
Absolutely you can cancel, but why should the host be out of pocket because you have changed your mind about visiting his country ?
Why is it offensive to you that the host gave you factual information that only Americans want to cancel because of a US media story about tourists from your country who sadly died while on holiday?
Quite honestly if I read those media stories it would never occur to me to cancel my holiday.
Have a pep talk with your friends and go and enjoy yourselves.