Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said Tuesday that a senior executive’s suggestion to dig up and disclose personal details about journalists critical of the company was “terrible.”
In a lengthy series of tweets, Kalanick addressed an explosive report from Buzzfeed stating that Uber’s Emil Michael floated the idea at a private dinner last week. Michael suggested hiring opposition researchers and journalists to fight back at the company’s critics in the press, particularly PandoDaily editor Sarah Lacy, according to the report.
Kalanick said Michael does not play a communications role at Uber and said his “terrible” remarks did “not represent the company.”
“His remarks showed a lack of leadership, a lack of humanity, and a departure from our values and ideals,” he wrote.
Kalanick also said he believes Uber was doing a good job of publicizing the positive impact it has on the communities it serves up until the company came under scrutiny for Michael’s comments.
“We are up to the challenge to show that Uber is and will continue to be a positive member of the community,” he wrote. “And furthermore, I will do everything in my power towards the goal of earning that trust.”
The Uber CEO did not say whether Michael faces any repercussions for his remarks. The company did not respond to TPM’s request for comment on Michael’s status with the company as of Tuesday.
View Kalanick’s tweets below:
1/ Emil’s comments at the recent dinner party were terrible and do not represent the company.
— travis kalanick (@travisk) November 18, 2014
2/ His remarks showed a lack of leadership, a lack of humanity, and a departure from our values and ideals
— travis kalanick (@travisk) November 18, 2014
3/ His duties here at Uber do not involve communications strategy or plans and are not representative in any way of the company approach
— travis kalanick (@travisk) November 18, 2014
4/ Instead, we should lead by inspiring our riders, our drivers and the public at large.
— travis kalanick (@travisk) November 18, 2014
5/ We should tell the stories of progress and appeal to people’s hearts and minds
— travis kalanick (@travisk) November 18, 2014
6/ We must be open and vulnerable enough to show people the positive principles that are the core of Uber’s culture
— travis kalanick (@travisk) November 18, 2014
7/ We must tell the stories of progress Uber has brought to cities and show the our constituents that we are principled and mean well
— travis kalanick (@travisk) November 18, 2014
8/ The burden is on us to show that, and until Emil’s comments we felt we were making positive steps along those lines
— travis kalanick (@travisk) November 18, 2014
9/ But I will personally commit to our riders, partners and the public that we are up to the challenge
— travis kalanick (@travisk) November 18, 2014
10/ We are up to the challenge to show that Uber is and will continue to be a positive member of the community
— travis kalanick (@travisk) November 18, 2014
11/ And furthermore, I will do everything in my power towards the goal of earning that trust.
— travis kalanick (@travisk) November 18, 2014
