Uber Infuriates The Internet With ‘Jewber’ Pun
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By Thea Glassman March 29, 2017
Uber is having a rough week — and its “Shalom” message isn’t helping.
On Tuesday, the popular ride sharing service released its diversity report which revealed 63.9% of their company is male, and 49.8% white. Included in that report is a breakdown of the company’s various backgrounds which includes (in their own words): Los Ubers (Hispanic and Latino employees), UberHUE (Black employees) and Shalom (Jewish employees).
Under the Shalom category, the description reads: “Our goal is to make the world a little smaller, by connecting Uberettos and Jewbers from all backgrounds, encouraging collaboration and closeness from all corners of the globe.”
According to Uber spokesperson Matt Kalman, the employees themselves came up with their own terminology. Regardless, this did not sit well on the Twitterverse.
I don’t work in HR but seems if you’re releasing a diversity report using the slang “Jewbers” isn’t the way to go. https://t.co/wDWNeKO4u2 pic.twitter.com/kmOVZDHAx3
— Brian Cason (@brian_cason) March 28, 2017
not sure using terms like “Jewber” and “UberHUE” really help make the point that Uber is welcoming diversity: https://t.co/5IJqavIz7g pic.twitter.com/4RTRZvU4RY
— Lisa Fischer (@HeyLisaMichelle) March 28, 2017
i’m sorry, “Jewbers” and “Los Ubers?” ? for real? pic.twitter.com/wADyVxWPcr
— Christine Magee (@christinekmagee) March 28, 2017
mouth hanging slack in astonishment #DeleteUber https://t.co/TdgC4uqsNP pic.twitter.com/ayV6WtjF5o
— HUNTER S. FAILSON (@Bro_Pair) March 28, 2017
Uber is still dealing with last month’s scandal, when former employee Susan J. Fowler wrote a lengthy blog post detailing her experience with sexual harassment and chauvinism in the company’s workplace.
Travis Kalanick, Uber’s CEO, took to Twitter to say he would be conducting an “urgent investigation.”
“What’s described here is abhorrent & against everything we believe in,” he wrote. “Anyone who behaves this way or thinks this is OK will be fired.”
Thea Glassman is an Associate Editor at the Forward. Reach her at glassman@forward.com or on Twitter at @theakglassman.
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