Uber driver allegedly harasses gay couple with homophobic slurs, drags one man by car on New York City street
A newlywed gay couple is alleging that an Uber driver verbally assaulted them and then dragged one of them from the moving vehicle.
Taray Carey shared on Facebook pictures of his injuries from the alleged assault, which took place around 1:50 a.m. on Wednesday in Manhattan after the driver witnessed Carey and his husband, Alex Majkowski, kiss in the back of the car, which they were sharing with a third friend.
After the kiss, the driver, who was identified as “Denis,” turned around and said, “Are you f*gs?” When Carey asked him to repeat himself he asked, “Are you f*****s? Are you f*****s? In my country you’d be beheaded for that,” according to The Post. He added that he was Russian.
According to Carey, the Uber driver “started driving like a moron,” which prompted the couple’s friend to hop out when they reached a red light. Carey attempted to follow suit when he became snagged on a seatbelt, and the driver sped off, dragging him for what he said was a quarter of a block before he got himself free.
The driver continued to drive, and Carey chased his car, as his husband was still inside the vehicle.
“If I had caught up to that car with my husband in the back, I’d be the one in jail,” Carey, who is 6’3″ and a former Temple University linebacker, said. “I’m not used to feeling so defenseless.” Carey’s husband Majkowski jumped out of the vehicle as soon as it stopped at a red light.
The couple reported the driver to the police, and Uber has since refunded the $17.46 for the ride. The ride-share company continues to investigate the complaint.
Uber provided the following statement to Yahoo Lifestyle, “What’s been reported is very concerning to us and Uber does not tolerate any form of discrimination. The driver’s access to the app has been removed as we continue to investigate.”
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Delta passenger alleges his pilot hit on him via a dating app during flight
When no one attended a boy’s 11th birthday party, the police showed up with gifts
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
