Uber is like that horrible ex you reluctantly keep taking back. The one who promises you they've changed and showers you with love/flowers/hope. But, two weeks later they're back at it, arguing with taxi drivers and shouting in public spaces again.
In a horribly similar vein, the taxi app literally cannot seem to get it's sh*t together. After months of abhorrent sexism claims, you think they'd be able to get through a very important meeting about trying to fix their problems with work-place harassment without some idiot making a dumb, unfunny and misogynistic joke. Well, of course not. This is Uber we're talking about.
In leaked audio obtained from Yahoo Finance, Uber board member David Bonderman made an inappropriate joke/comment after fellow board member Arianna Huffington was discussing the need for more female representation on Uber's board.
'There's a lot of data that shows that when there is one woman on the board it's much more likely that there will be a second woman,' said Huffington.
Bonderman then interjected with: 'Actually what it shows is that it's much more likely to be more talking.'
The remark would have been inappropriate in any context, let alone in the middle of a high-profile meeting about your company's marginalization of female employees. Also, wasn't he taught interrupting is god. Damn. Rude?
The whole thing strongly reminds of this sage nugget of advice:
In an apology, which was sent to staff after the incident, Bonderman wrote: 'It was inappropriate. I also want to apologize to all Uber employees who were offended by the remark. I deeply regret it.'
Yet several hour later, the venture capitalist has resigned. The New York Times was the first to report his decision.
'Today at Uber's all-hands meeting, I directed a comment to my colleague and friend Arianna Huffington that was careless, inappropriate, and inexcusable. The comment came across in a way that was the opposite of what I intended, but I understand the destructive effect it had, and I take full responsibility for that,' Bonderman wrote in a resignation statement.
The controversy is just the latest to surround the company. And, really, why are we still having this conversation? A mere four months ago, the blog post written by former Uber engineer Susan Fowler went viral after it detailed a long list of instances during her time at the firm.
Time to boycott? We think so.
