I learned just how far Uber will go to silence journalists and attack women

I learned just how far Uber will go to silence journalists and attack women(pando.com)

102 points by julespitt 11 years ago | 10 comments

I don't know the background of this fight. But I did read the linked buzzfeed article.

The article discusses remarks Uber executive Emil Michael made. He said that Uber should consider hiring a team of opposition researchers to dig up dirt on its critics in the media — and specifically to spread details of the personal life of a female journalist who has criticized the company.

The executive later attempted to repudiate his remarks by saying

   “The remarks attributed to me at a private
   dinner — borne out of frustration during an
   informal debate over what I feel is
   sensationalistic media coverage of the
   company I am proud to work for — do not
   reflect my actual views and have no relation
   to the company’s views or approach. They were
   wrong no matter the circumstance and
   I regret them.”

So apparently the words coming out of his mouth did not reflect his "actual views". Good to know.

Kinda reminds me of an earlier period of US history, when a US President nicknamed Tricky Dick famously said: "We can do that, but it would be wrong." History does not record whether Dick was winking when he said that.

techdragon 11 years ago | |

Frustrating situations bring out hyperbole rather quickly. I'm not so convinced this wasn't just a flippant comment born of frustration.

It's unfortunate that we have little way to tell. Now it's "trial by media" and we can't even fully trust anyone who was present at the moment of utterance.

mercer 11 years ago | | |

While it's true that we can often say things we don't mean when frustrated or angry, in normal life this usually requires an apology afterwards. And in some cases, when we go too far, that might not fix things.

When it concerns a CEO with the amount of information/power that he has, I'd say that the standard should be even higher. And I think he clearly went too far. Frustration doesn't excuse it.

GhotiFish 11 years ago | | |

I'm in your camp on this one. I asked my self, "in what context could I say that?" and the answer is pretty bloody obvious. When I'm angry, and Uber gets a hell of a lot of smear in media.

retroafroman 11 years ago |

Disappointing he wouldn't even offer a simple apology when talking on the phone. Perhaps afraid of getting sued, but really?

philwelch 11 years ago | |

If he knew he was on the record, I don't begrudge him taking his time to compose his thoughts and send the apology in writing. There are enough things to be concerned about here; I don't think this is one of them.

merrua 11 years ago |

How is Uber's brand not poison by this point? Obvious problem of not taking care of ones customers keeps turning up.

krapp 11 years ago | |

Some poisons take time.

leeview 11 years ago |

What a profitable and rather easy job: blogging about how sexist, women objectifying misogynist a CEO is. If it's not the CEO then it's a manager. Or an employee. Or a contractor. Or a subcontractor. From US. Or from Europe. Or maybe there is not enough diversity. "Somewhere sometime a woman is a victim and if you are a man you should feel guilty because someone else did something wrong !" How many years will continue this immorally idiotic campaign ?

GhotiFish 11 years ago | |

Multiply the number of downvotes you have by 10.

That many years. At least.

“The remarks attributed to me at a private dinner — borne out of frustration during an informal debate over what I feel is sensationalistic media coverage of the company I am proud to work for — do not reflect my actual views and have no relation to the company’s views or approach. They were wrong no matter the circumstance and I regret them.”