Man says Uber ride ‘went South’ after driver realized he was actually a man: ‘The reason women don’t want men Uber drivers’
Harassment and assault are a growing concern amongst rideshare customers.
In August 2025, the New York Times reported that Uber received “a report of sexual assault or sexual misconduct in the United States almost every eight minutes on average between 2017 and 2022.” While the company spent years working on solutions to the problem, the Times claims that the company “delayed or did not require its drivers to adopt some of the most promising programs.”
Today, many riders report feelings of anxiety while using rideshare. One study found that “creepy or weird” driver behavior was among the most common concerns reported by riders.
Now, a user on TikTok has sparked discussion after sharing an incident they recorded while in the backseat of an Uber.
What Happened During This Uber Ride?
In a video with over 124,000 views, TikToker Mitchel (@.igirisu) shows himself sitting in the backseat of a car.
“POV: the reason women don’t want men Uber drivers,” Mitchel writes in the video’s overlay text.
Over the course of the video, Mitchel documents a series of increasingly uncomfortable questions from his Uber driver. For example, the driver asks how long Mitchel has been single, then presses him on why this is the case.
“Within 2 minutes of the ride he starts talking about LGBTQ discrimination after verifying I’m the rider who requested the trip because my photo is outdated and I presented feminine for an event I hosted today,” Mitchel writes in the caption.
“Then after declining to answer the personal questions he asks me if I’m single, asks what I’m seeking in a person and other personal information such as where I live, gave me his number and told me to call him back for a private ride home after my event, just wilding,” he continued. “The full video is 4 minutes long but I chopped it because this part really took me out. He seemed so nice until he started asking weird question[s].”
What Should An Uber Passenger Do In This Situation?
According to Uber’s website, there are a few steps one can take if a driver makes one feel unsafe.
“We hold drivers to a high standard in accordance with our community guidelines,” the page reads. “Unprofessional behavior, inappropriate physical contact or verbal aggression from drivers is not tolerated.”
In response, the site suggests reporting the driver via the Uber website. This appears to be the route taken by Mitchel.
“Reported EXPEDITIOUSLY,” he wrote in a comment. “He was asking way too many personal questions, trying to figure out where I live, wanted me to call him, etc.”
A later comment from Mitchel says he got a full refund. However, the consequences of these reports vary. Sometimes, they lead to an investigation, which can result in a driver being deactivated. However, in some cases, passengers have reported that they themselves have received warnings after reporting incidents, as drivers have disputed their retelling of events.
Commenters Have Similar Experiences
In the comments section, users shared their own similar stories. In some cases, they added how they managed to resolve the situation.
“I call Uber support and let them listen to the whole conversation. I have gotten 3 drivers banned doing that,” wrote a user.
“My Uber driver who was a man thought it was okay to make a ‘shortcut’ onto a dark road than got upset when I asked him to follow the gps,” recounted another.
“I always tell drivers, I don’t answer personal questions,” stated a third.
@.igirisu Within 2 minutes of the ride he starts talking about LGBTQ discrimination after verifying I’m the rider who requested the trip because my photo is outdated and I presented feminine for an event I hosted today. Then after declining to answer the personal questions he asks me if I’m single, asks what I’m seeking in a person and other personal information such as where I live, gave me his number and told me to call him back for a private ride home after my event, just wilding. The full video is 4 minutes long but I chopped it because this part really took me out. He seemed so nice until he started asking weird question ?
♬ original sound – MITCHEL
The Mary Sue reached out to Uber via email and Mitchel via X and Instagram direct message.
Update Mar. 24, 2026:
In a direct message exchange on X, the TikToker said that he had experienced similar treatment in the past.
“I experience harassment regularly as a queer man but it’s never stopped me from presenting in a way that feels authentic to me. I’ve used Uber for years but irregularly; however this is the first I’ve encountered a driver this persistent,” he wrote. “I was honestly taken aback and surprised he continued asking invasive questions even after I’ve already declined to answer another set of inquiries that triggered physical discomfort.”
The TikToker then noted the response to this article. He said that many commenters engaged in victim-blaming before, while others made confused statements about his gender. Further users, he says, also made false allegations.
“I specifically want to touch on the ‘false allegations’ because 1) it’s clear they haven’t watched the TikTok and 2) a lot of men are OBSESSED with the small percent of false allegations that goes into women reporting abuse, harassment or misconduct of any kind,” he shared. “We live in a society where it’s easy to shame someone for what they DIDN’T do in conflict as opposed to holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. From what I’ve observed, researched and experienced, ONLY predatory men care more about response of the impacted person than the individual afflicting harm.”
“Countless women have come forth detailing uncomfortable situations they’ve encountered with men; in an out of ride-sharing services but because a lot of men are misogynistic, they’re quick to invalidate or trivialise women’s struggles,” he continued. “If they didn’t see it, it ‘didn’t happen.’ If they do see it, they make excuses. It doesn’t matter what a woman (or person) does in general, society is comfortable blaming victims than holding perpetrators accountable.”
Some responses to the article were also transphobic in nature.
“A few comments attacked my appearance which is nothing uncommon for people who are deeply insecure with themselves and project that misery onto others, but reading one or two comments from women about how I’m trying to ‘include myself with them’ and telling me to ‘stay in my lane’ when sharing I resonate with why they don’t want male Uber drivers was interesting,” he stated. “Transphobic women unconsciously feed into misogyny a lot more than they realise, but I don’t think anyone’s ready for that conversation yet.”
“Regardless of a person’s appearance, gender, etc, no one should feel unsafe using ride-sharing services. I encourage any and everyone to speak up if they experience something similar to what I did,” the TikToker concluded.
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