Uber CEO Travis Kalanick does not have a valid driver's license . Whenever Travis takes a cab, he prefers to take an Uber Black, the high-end service offered by the California based cab aggregator. In early February on Super Bowl Sunday, he took his preferred Uber black car. He was accompanied by his two female friends. Travis was shimming to the tune of Maroon 5's "Don't Wanna Know" and having an awkward conversation with his friends. One of his companions asked him that she heard that Uber is having a hard year. Kalanick replied that he will make sure that every year is a hard one for Uber.
When the ride ended, driver Fawzi Kamel complained to Kalanick that Uber was raising the standards but dropping the prices which affects the drivers. The argument got a bit out of hand and eventually the driver said to Kalanick, "People are not trusting you any more, I lost $97,000 because of you. I’m bankrupt because of you ... You keep changing every day.”
Then Kalanick got personal with Kamel and said, “Some people don’t like to take responsibility for their own shit. They blame everything in their life on somebody else. Good luck!" and slammed the door.
Kamel, 37, has been driving for Uber since 2011 and wanted to draw Kalanick's attention to the plight of Uber drivers, reports Bloomberg.
Later, in an email to staff, after Bloomberg reported this incident, Kalanick apologised to Kamel for treating him disrespectfully. “To say that I am ashamed is an extreme understatement,” Uber CEO wrote. “My job as your leader is to lead…and that starts with behaving in a way that makes us all proud. That is not what I did, and it cannot be explained away. It’s clear this video is a reflection of me—and the criticism we’ve received is a stark reminder that I must fundamentally change as a leader and grow up. This is the first time I’ve been willing to admit that I need leadership help and I intend to get it.”
In January, the company paid $20m to settle allegations by the Federal Trade Commission that it recruited drivers with false promises about their prospective earnings, reports the Gaurdian.