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Arts & EntertainmentUber Technologies

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick heckled on Colbert show

By
Benjamin Snyder
Benjamin Snyder
Managing Editor
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By
Benjamin Snyder
Benjamin Snyder
Managing Editor
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 11, 2015, 11:00 AM ET
Travis Kalanick, chief executive officer of Uber Technologies Inc., speaks during the Institute of Directors (IOD) annual convention at the Royal Albert Hall in London, U.K., on Friday, Oct. 3, 2014. U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne told the IOD "clearly the economy is growing, unemployment has fallen sharply and business investment has picked up,"  Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Travis Kalanick, chief executive officer of Uber Technologies Inc., speaks during the Institute of Directors (IOD) annual convention at the Royal Albert Hall in London, U.K., on Friday, Oct. 3, 2014. U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne told the IOD "clearly the economy is growing, unemployment has fallen sharply and business investment has picked up," Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesBloomberg Bloomberg via Getty Images

Uber’s CEO Travis Kalanick didn’t get the warmest reception when he spoke with Stephen Colbert on the comedian’s new late night television show, according to Business Insider.

The publication reported that during a taping of the show, there was at least one audience member who “accused Kalanick of destroying taxi-industry jobs,” according to the article. Colbert reportedly let the audience member continue speaking.

Kalanick’s response was to say that his company pays better than the taxi industry and also has flexible hours for those working at the popular ride-sharing service.

Per an apparent audience member on Twitter, who witnessed the event unfold:

https://twitter.com/falpal_sarah/status/642199171076911104

https://twitter.com/falpal_sarah/status/642197317244854272

https://twitter.com/falpal_sarah/status/642199402656960513

https://twitter.com/falpal_sarah/status/642196090947792897

For more on Uber, Seattle is considering letting members of the ride-sharing service unionize with Lyft, a competitor.

About the Author
By Benjamin SnyderManaging Editor
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Benjamin Snyder is Fortune's managing editor, leading operations for the newsroom.

Prior to rejoining Fortune, he was a managing editor at Business Insider and has worked as an editor for Bloomberg, LinkedIn and CNBC, covering leadership stories, sports business, careers and business news. He started his career as a breaking news reporter at Fortune in 2014.

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