Uber banned a D.C. man from using its app after a video was posted online showing the ban yelling at his food delivery driver, an Uber employee, saying he needed to "learn English."
"We are disgusted by the behavior in this video," Uber said in a post on X. "Hate has no place on our platform and we have removed this business from our app and are working to check in on this courier’s well-being."
The video, posted on TikTok by delivery driver Gregorio Amundarain, showed his exchange with Greg Harris, the owner of CANNA, a shop in D.C.'s Adams Morgan neighborhood. In the video, Harris is heard instructing Amundarain to "Learn English!" while expressing frustration over his inability to communicate in English.
Amundarain had arrived at the shop to pick up an order when he encountered a barking dog inside, prompting him to wait outside and signal Harris for assistance. Upon entering, he claims Harris began yelling at him, leading Amundarain to record the incident on his phone.
The video shows Harris repeatedly demanding that Amundarain learn English, even mocking the Spanish language, with Amundarain explaining he was scared of the barking dog.
Amundarain, who has lived in the U.S. for two years, remarked that this was his first experience with such hostility. He noted that most restaurants are accommodating to drivers who may not speak English fluently, allowing for communication through phones.
As the video concludes, Harris forcefully hands Amundarain the order, who exits the shop expressing his feelings in Spanish, stating, "He's insulting me and I don't understand what he's telling me."
Uber responded to the incident by removing Harris' business, CANNA, from the platform, and reviewing the comments on the company's profile.