American model Tess Holliday has vowed never to take another Uber after she was allegedly body shamed by one of the ride-sharing company’s drivers.
In an Instagram post shared this week with her 1.4 million followers, the 31-year-old claimed the male driver accused her of being unhealthy as a result of her size.
“Hey Uber,” Holliday wrote. “I don’t pay more to use your [premium] ‘black car’ service to be told that there’s no way I could possibly be healthy because I’m fat…”
In an accompanying video, the driver can be heard questioning Holliday about her cholesterol levels, to which she replies, “I’m perfect. I’m healthy.”
“No one should have to tolerate this at any level of the services you offer,” the mother of one wrote.
“I’m fat. I also have a fat wallet & will no longer be using your services. Ever.”
Holliday, who is a high-profile advocate for body positivity, attracted criticism from some followers over the caption on the video, in which she described the driver as “fat”.
However, in an edit to the post the Los Angeles woman added that she was using the word as a “descriptor and not to insult him”.
“Also I did not show his face or use his name when filming,” she wrote, “it was to be able to show what I deal with daily and why this behaviour is unacceptable from anyone.”
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Holliday, born Ryann Maegen Hoven and formerly known as Tess Munster, rose to fame in 2011 as the face of US television series Heavy,
She has since appeared in campaigns for major fashion and cosmetics labels – including H&M and Benefit – and been featured in Vogue Italia.
Top Comments
Errr, so she's offended at being indirectly called fat but she can call others fat? I think everyone should avoid her and request this driver instead.
Wow. And I didn't even need more confirmation that western women are the most privileged class of humans to have ever lived on Earth. So much wrong with this I don't even no where to start. Again we have covert video evidence that conveniently leaves out the context of the conversation. For all we know this gent who sounds to be older could be dealing with his own weight associated health problems & might in fact be sharing very real empathetic human concern with Tess. But all we have to go by is Tess's word. Not like she didn't make her name for herself by being 'professionally offended' or anything that might make us doubt her version of events. For all we know she could of intentionally sent the conversation into this cul de sac. Now this poor guy, he will probably actually lose his job because Tess wants clicks & he was the poor chump that got landed with her as a rider. And unlike Tess, Uber drivers are not on big money. In fact most Australian driver's average just over half of the minimum hourly wage here in Australia. Most of these guys are living payday to payday. Running into the ground what for most of us is the single biggest lifetime purchase, their personal car. Just so riders can get from A to B safely. True, no one forces them to do it, but for many they have family commitments like looking after disabled kids or sick wives that prevent them from holding down higher paying, less flexible work, thus few other options exist for them. Now this, another obstacle to negate in their humble existance. The apex predator that is the professionally offended that stalks their livelihoods.
Or, it could have happened like she said. She might legitimately be offended and over it. I wouldn't want to discuss my personal health with a taxi/uber driver.
Offence is never given, only taken. What if she was the one to bring up the subject. In effect fishing for offence. We have on one hand a gent in the business of getting people from A to B in safe state of body & mind. Then on the other hand we have a 'body positive' model who gets most of her media attention when she perceives she has been 'fat shamed'. You might be in the habit of trusting the shadow games of those with clear agendas that suggest otherwise, but I'll continue to see things for what they are.