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A number of actors and musicians have taken to social media as they #DeleteUber, following the ridesharing app's decision to continue operating on Saturday evening during a New York taxi strike.
Empire star Taraji P. Henson, her Hidden Figures co-star Janelle Monáe, House of Cards star Michael Kelly, comedian Billy Eichner, actress Lena Dunham, Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson, X Ambassadors, Saturday Night Live's Aidy Bryant, comedian Jordan Peele, singer Amber Coffman and others announced Sunday on Twitter they had uninstalled Uber. Many of them also promoted Uber's competitor Lyft.
MadeinTYO, the Atlanta rapper best known for his viral hit “Uber Everywhere,” ironically confirmed Sunday he'll now "Lyft Everywhere."
The frustration stems from Donald Trump's executive order banning refugees and migrants from seven Muslim-majority nations, while sparing Middle East countries with financial ties to the former real estate tycoon.
Protests erupted Saturday at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport after 17 individuals, including two Iraqi men with valid visas, were detained upon arriving at the airport.
As the demonstrations grew, New York taxi drivers confirmed a one-hour strike at JFK, as a means of bringing attention to the negative effects of Trump's order. Meanwhile, Uber paused its surge pricing around the airport but continued as usual, prompting criticism that the company was undermining the taxi strike's overall message for the sake of money.
Hey guys just sayin!#lyft
— Michael Kelly (@michaeljkellyjr) January 29, 2017
Want up to $50 in free ride credit on Lyft? Download now with my link. https://t.co/gcSp4WyvKZ
We must be mindful of where we spend our $ & the people we're making rich. I've used @UBER constantly & loved it. Using @Lyft as of today.
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) January 29, 2017
In response to the executive order on Sunday, Lyft's co-founders John Zimmer and Logan Green blasted Trump's executive action and declared they will "not be silent on issues that threaten the values of our community." They also confirmed they are donating $1 million to the American Civil Liberties Union.
"We created Lyft to be a model for the type of community we want our world to be: diverse, inclusive and safe," Zimmer and Green's letter said, adding: "Banning people of a particular faith or creed, race or identity, sexuality or ethnicity, from entering the U.S. is antithetical to both Lyft's and our nations' core values."
To further complicate matters for Uber, its CEO Travis Kalanick is part of Trump's business advisory group. And some have criticized the company for perhaps being too cozy with the new administration.
Later on Sunday, Kalanick reacted to the surge of anti-Uber messages, releasing a statement blasting Trump's "unjust immigration ban." He also vowed to help drivers from the banned countries with legal support, compensation for lost earnings and a $3 million fund to assist with "immigration and translation services."
Me too! https://t.co/m64FtjIHXc
— Aidy Bryant (@aidybryant) January 29, 2017
Canceling #Uber like.... #bye #nomuslimban #teamfreedomoverfear #teamstopdefendinghate… https://t.co/ka5kXcGiuQ
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) January 29, 2017
Am I going to miss @Uber ? pic.twitter.com/JrpLYZGBgl
— Jordan Peele (@JordanPeele) January 29, 2017