Gay couple 'thrown out of Uber cab for kissing and cuddling'

By Jamie Roberton: ITV News

A gay couple have claimed they were thrown out of an Uber cab in London for kissing and cuddling.

Corey Watts and Jordan Sloan were travelling from Covent Garden at around 8pm on New Year's Day when the cab driver ordered them out of the vehicle.

"We were kissing and cuddled next to each other when a minute or two after picking us up he pulled over and told us to get out," Mr Sloan told ITV News.

When the couple asked why they were being evicted from the cab, the driver allegedly replied: "I take gays but they don't normally do this."

The driver has been suspended by Uber while the incident is investigated.

Watts, a 23-year-old hair stylist from Cardiff, said he was a bit "hot-headed" when he heard what the driver had said, accusing him of "disgusting homophobia".

Sloan, from Toronto, Canada, said: "I've never had any homophobic stuff happen to me so I was caught off guard.

"You don't expect it to happen in one of the world's biggest cities.

"I wanted to understand what he was thinking so I asked the driver: 'Would you do the same thing if it was a guy and a girl?'"

Sloan said the driver then drove away.

The couple were charged for the brief journey but later refunded.

Watts said he is "adamant" that he will never use an Uber cab again.

Asked whether the incident had put them both off moving to London in February, Sloan said: "No, London is a gorgeous city."

An Uber spokesperson told ITV News: “Uber does not tolerate any form of discrimination either by our partner drivers or towards our partner drivers.

"We opened an investigation from the moment we learned of this unacceptable incident and have been in contact with the rider to extended our sincere apologies and get further information.

"The driver concerned has been suspended from the Uber platform.”