Uber 'Removes' Driver After Lesbian Couple Record Anti-Gay Rant

Uber officials have reportedly fired a driver in Melbourne, Australia after a lesbian couple recorded his anti-gay rant, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Lucy Thomas and her girlfriend Chelsea Lang ordered an Uber ride after dinner Saturday night. While in the car, the women talked about plans to attend a football game the next day but the driver, known as "John," chimed in, saying he "hated" football because players are "a bunch of faggots touching each other," according to Thomas.

"He went on a bit of a rant; he was cheery and jovial but he was using really offensive language," she told the newspaper.

Thomas, who is the CEO of an anti-bullying group called Project Rockit, told the driver she was offended by his language, which, she says, also included the words "spastic," "retard," "Abo" (an offensive term for Aborigine)," and "a six-letter word with two 'G's.'"

"He was saying it's okay for him to use that word ['Abo'] because he has Aboriginal blood," Thomas said.

John then asked the women if they are gay. Lang told him they are and "that's when he really changed," Thomas told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"He stopped being cheery and a cloud came over him. He was very aggressive and the tone changed," she said.

Thomas recorded the rest of their exchange on her phone.

She asked the driver if he thought it was OK for him to use offensive language.

"What, are you going to give me a one [star] rating and make a complaint [to Uber], and when I write my report about two faggots who don't like being called faggots, then what are they going to say?" he reportedly said in the recorded audio.

The car then arrived at the women's destination, but the car doors were apparently locked. When Thomas asked John to unlock the door, he told them to get out of his car and threatened to "drag" them out when they continue to question him, the newspaper reports.

Thomas said she and Lang were "shaking" when they got out of the car.

"I sound quite confident in the recording but I was terrified, it was really scary," she told the Sydney Morning Herald. "We got out of the car and as we were walking to the front door he sat in the car watching us and then drove away really slowly giving us this stare."

Thomas took to Twitter to post an audio recording of the incident.

Thomas said she's worried about her safety because John knows her address. She filed a complaint with Uber but they told the company wouldn't disclose the outcome of the incident due to "privacy issues."

A spokesperson for Uber told the Sydney Morning Herald it "removed the driver from the platform" once they become aware of the incident.

"Uber does not tolerate any form of discrimination, and we have been in contact with this rider to offer our support," the spokesperson said.

The newspaper points to Uber's non-discrimination policy, which prohibits "discrimination against riders or drivers based on race, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, gender identity, age or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal or state law."

"Any rider or driver found to have violated this prohibition will lose access to the Uber platform," the policy reads.

Watch the Sydney Morning Herald's report on the incident by clicking here.

[H/T Towleroad]