A complaint filed by an Upper West Side woman against Uber and an allegedly homophobic Uber driver, Umer Azam, credits your favorite newspaper with getting some answers.
Sara Held claims she was discriminated against Dec. 18 after picking up her wife, Zoe Adjonyoh, at JFK. On the 45-minute ride, the couple exchanged some kisses and discussed starting a family.
The complaint with the NYC Commission on Human Rights says the driver was “belligerent” as he “forcefully tossed her bag to the ground.”
An hour later, Held was informed that her Uber account had been suspended because she had been reported for inappropriate behavior.
“Uber ignored Mrs. Held’s request for information for over a week. It was not until a reporter for the New York Post contacted Uber about Mrs. Held’s case that the company finally responded to her,” the complaint says. Held’s account was reinstated.
“If Mrs. Held had not gone public with her story to the New York Post reporter, Uber would never have contacted her.”
The reporter was me, and an Uber spokeswoman said at the time, “Uber does not tolerate discrimination of any kind.” But the complaint says, “Uber has taken no disciplinary action against Mr. Azam for making false and discriminatory accusations.”