CEO to ‘grow up’ after cabbie spat

New York, March 1: Uber Technologies Inc chief executive Travis Kalanick on Tuesday said it was time for him to “grow up” and get help after a video showing him getting into an argument with a driver, who complained about the pay rates, was published.

Bloomberg published a video of Mr Kalanick arguing with the driver who tells him that rates have been cut and he has lost money. Mr Kalanick, 40, responds angrily that some people don’t take responsibility for their own actions.

The video is the latest in a series of challenges and embarrassments for the ride service.

Last week, Alphabet Inc’s self-driving vehicle unit Waymo sued Uber for allegedly stealing designs related to autonomous This video is a reflection of me... and the criticism we’ve received is a reminder that I must change as a leader and grow up Travis Kalanick, vehicles, a claim that Uber has denied.

Uber also is probing allegations of sexual harassment in its own organisation. Earlier this month, a female former engineer at Uber said managers and human resources officers at the company did not punish her manager after she reported his unwanted sexual advances.

In the video, the driver tells Mr Kalanick, a passenger, that “people are not trusting you anymore,” and complains that rates for drivers have fallen.

Mr Kalanick responds, “Some people don’t like to take responsibility for their own shit. They blame everything in their life on somebody else. Good luck!”

However, later, Mr Kalanick said he was ashamed for treating the driver disrespectfully, and apologised.

“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,” the Uber CEO wrote in a statement.