Model Miriam Mattova ejected from Uber over antisemitism
By: By MATHILDA HELLER
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Model Miriam Mattova ejected from Uber over antisemitism
"At that moment, I chose to step out of the car, not out of fear but out of clarity. When someone reveals open discrimination, there is no reason to remain in that space," Mattova explained.
Canadian-Slovakian model Miriam Mattova.(photo credit: Miriam Mattova)
Canadian-Slovakian model Miriam Mattova was kicked out of an Uber in Toronto because the driver refused to drive a Jewish person, Mattova, and her lawyer, Howard Levitt, told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.
The incident occurred on November 30, when Mattova got into an Uber on Dundas Street (called by her friend) to travel to her home. Once in the car, she facetimed another friend and casually recounted details of her recent trip to Israel.
In the middle of the intersection, the driver suddenly hit the brakes and told Mattova to get out of the car. Mattova asked the driver what was happening, to which the driver (a Muslim woman) responded that she did not feel comfortable with Mattova in the car.
"I asked why, because I still didn't understand the situation, and then the driver responded by saying they do not drive Jewish people," Mattova told the Post.
"At that moment, I chose to step out of the car, not out of fear but out of clarity. When someone reveals open discrimination, there is no reason to remain in that space."
Mattova called another Uber, returned home, and the next day filed a detailed complaint in the Uber app. The friend who ordered the Uber also filed the complaint.
However, she only received a response after the story was published in The National Post .
'More than the cost of a ride'
"Uber responded with a phone call, saying that they are going to give me a refund. I wanted to be clear that this situation is about more than the cost of a ride and that the incident I experienced was a blatant act of antisemitism. "
Mattova inquired as to whether the driver would be removed from the company, to which Uber responded that it could not provide her with an answer. In a subsequent email correspondence, Uber said it would speak to the driver, but no more information was provided.
"When they called her, they wanted to ask whether she had an injury from it, like an insurance company does," added Levitt. "That is all they were interested in, not about the racism of the driver."
Levitt sent Uber a letter demanding that it stipulate in every driver contract that there can be no discrimination based on human rights grounds, which, of course, includes religion and race.
Levitt confirmed that if Uber does not respond, he will file a human rights application before the Human Rights Tribunal in Ontario.
Mattova told the Post that since she posted about the incident on Instagram, scores of people have been reaching out to her to say similar antisemitic incidents have happened to them. They also said they had reported the incidents to Uber but received no answer.
"This is not a one-person problem," said Mattova. "I think this is a bigger issue, and Uber has not been taking accountability for what's been actually going on."
"When a company as large as Uber fails to respond, it sends a completely wrong message. Like a serious incident involving hate should trigger immediate action within 24 hours."
Mattova wanted to make it clear that she isn't seeking money from this incident, and if Uber wants to give money, she would want the money to be donated to a charity based in Israel named Israel Friends. Additionally, she is seeking the dismissal of the driver and a formal apology to her and, in general, to the Jewish community.
The Post also asked Mattova how she connects such incidents to her grandmother's experience as a Holocaust survivor.
"I personally think my family's history significantly shapes my views," she said. "My grandmother survived the concentration camp, which reminds me of the necessity to remember these events, like ensuring such hatred never reoccurs. We must remain vigilant against antisemitism and all forms of hatred. That's exactly why I'm doing this. That's my main reason."
Nevertheless, this is not the first such incident Mattova has experienced in Canada. Does she see a future in the country?
"At this moment, I question if I do have a future in Canada," she responded.
"Much of the Jewish community is fearful in Canada and is considering leaving to go to the US or Israel. The problem is if you show fear, you make your enemies more ebullient. The mainstream organizations are not being sufficiently aggressive, preferring condemnation to concrete action, " added Levitt.
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Although I will never return to Canada, I will never give up my Canadian Passport, which I just renewed for a ten year term (I don't ever want to go through that renewal process again), because I have become so disappointed with my home country.