Lesbian Couple Kicked Out Of Uber By Homophobic Driver
Alex Iovine, 26, and Emma Pichl, 24, were taking an Uber to a friend’s birthday party on Saturday at approximately 5 p.m. when their Uber driver – Ahmad El Boutari – began yelling at them. After the couple began kissing in the driver’s backseat whilst driving through Manhattan, Boutari pulled over and ordered them to get out of the car.
“We were sitting on opposite sides of the car. We leaned in for a peck, and that’s what it was, a legit peck,” Iovine said. When Boutari pulled over, Iovine said “My girlfriend started laughing. She thought he was joking.”
Iovine said she was aware of Uber’s policy wherein riders are not allowed to have intercourse in the backseat, however the “kiss was far from objectionable.” She added “He yelled at us for being disrespectful and inappropriate because we pecked on the lips.” The couple began videoing Boutari after they realized he wasn’t joking.
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Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has said that homophobic drivers “don’t belong on Uber.” Khosroshahi has released a statement, saying; “This is an open society and Uber is a platform that is available to anybody regardless of your background, your orientation, and that is sacred to us. It’s an unfortunate circumstance and we will do everything we can for that not to repeat.”
Iovine has asked for an apology from the driver and is hoping to receive a refund for the Uber ride. She has also filed a complaint with New York City’s Human Rights Commission. “Obviously, he’s homophobic. I was very surprised. I haven’t experienced homophobic behavior in the city. We live in this bubble and think this can’t happen here in New York City. This goes to show that it can happen anywhere,” Iovine said.
