Nationwide — Lakeya Foushee, a 24-year-old African American woman from North Carolina, said an Uber driver refused to drive her and her friend home unless they put their purses in the trunk. Then, he later locked them inside the car and demanded they promise not to leave a bad review.After finishing an eight-hour shift at Wingstop around 2 a.m. Sunday, Foushee and her friend booked an Uber. As soon as they got in, the driver insisted that they place their purses in the trunk. When they refused, the driver threatened to cancel the ride.
“He raised his voice and got belligerent,” Foushee told Atlanta Black Star. When she asked if all riders were told to put their bags in the trunk, the driver stayed silent. She then started recording the incident with her phone, and the driver immediately calmed down, “because he knew he was wrong,” she said.
In the video, which Foushee posted on TikTok days later, the driver shifts his focus to their drinks and tells them to place them in the cup holders. Foushee explained they carried only juice and dog bones from Wingstop, but the real concern was the safety of their personal belongings. Her purse contained her money, ID, and inhaler, and she didn’t feel comfortable putting it in the trunk.
The driver eventually drove them home without forcing them to put their purses in the trunk. However, when they arrived, he locked the car doors and refused to let them out unless they confirmed they wouldn’t leave a bad review. Foushee planned to report him, but TikTok users flooded Uber with complaints, which refunded her for the ride.
Foushee said she had just completed a double shift before booking the Uber, and she was exhausted. She and her friend had waited nearly 45 minutes for the ride, and had to wake up early for another shift on Easter Sunday. She felt unsafe and, fearing further conflict, suggested calling the police. However, the driver eventually drove them home without incident.
Although she is unsure if Uber fired the driver, she said she can no longer access his profile on the app. Uber has not publicly responded.