Same-Sex Couple Kicked Out Of Uber Driver's Car In Camden County

OAKLYN, NJ — A South Jersey woman is speaking out after she and her girlfriend were kicked out of an Uber driver’s car while on their way to a concert last week. She shared video of the incident on social media, and Uber confirmed the driver has been banned from the app.

Kristin Michelle, of Oaklyn, said she and her girlfriend were kicked out of an Uber after she gave her girlfriend a kiss on the cheek.

“She pulled the car over and said 'you need to get out of my car,'” Michelle said in a public Facebook post.

When Michelle asked why the driver told her, “I won’t have that in my car,” and then said, “You need to get out of my car because you are gay.”

This is when Michelle began recording the incident.

“So you’re kicking me out because I’m gay?” Michelle said in the video.

“Yes, I am,” the driver said.

Michelle asked the driver what is wrong with her, and the woman continues to tell her to get out of the car, at one point hitting the phone Michelle was using to record her.

“This is an Uber ride, I paid you for a service,” Michelle said.

“This is my personal car,” the woman responded.

“It’s 2019, and you’re kicking me out of the car because I’m gay?” Michelle asked.

“I can reject any ride I want to,” the driver said.

However, Uber’s Community Guidelines state:, “it is unacceptable to refuse to provide services based on characteristics like a person’s age, color, disability, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected under relevant law.”

“Uber does not tolerate discrimination in any form, and we have been in contact with this rider,” Uber spokesperson Grant Klinzman said. “We removed the driver’s access to the app as soon as we were made aware of this incident.”

The video ends with the driver picking up her phone and saying she will call the police. Michelle tells her to please call the police. However, the police were not called.

Once Michelle realized the situation wasn’t going to be resolved, she and her girlfriend got out of the car, Nj.com reports. They were about half a mile from home, so they walked there and ended up taking a train to the Zac Brown concert in Camden. The Uber ride to the venue would have taken about 15 minutes, she told the news agency.

Uber was informed of the incident through its app.

"Feedback is one way we can learn potential issues in real time," Uber says. "Our safety team reviews this information and investigates any issues."

Michelle said she is happy with Uber’s response and said the rideshare company shouldn't be blamed for this driver's actions. She's also happy with the support she’s received from people who have viewed the video online, including one person who said they used to use Uber but won’t use them ever again.

“I drive for Lyft now,” the person wrote. “If you ever need a ride again contact me personally.”
“ I’m so sorry that this happened to you,” another wrote. “This is repulsive. Good for you for keeping your composure girl...you’re better than me! I hope that you are doing okay after such a terrible experience.”

“I’m so sorry you had to deal with this,” another wrote. “You’re right. It’s 2019 and love is love! Celebrate love not hate.”

A spokesperson from Uber didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from Patch Monday morning.

The video was filled with expletives, which Michelle later apologized for.

“While I regret the language, my emotion got the best of me,” she said in a follow-up post. “However, I posted this because I was infuriated that someone could be so mean and put that reasoning on their religious beliefs. I believe God loves everyone no matter who they are or who they love. If you truly have faith, then you know that love is love.”