Dirty Tricks

Uber Reconsiders Smearing Its Critics

CEO says no after exec mulled it.

A day after an Uber executive suggested hiring a team of opposition researchers to dig up dirt on its critics in the media—and specifically to spread details of the personal life of a female journalist who has criticized the company—the company's CEO issued a rambling apology on Twitter. “Emil [Michael]’s comments at the recent dinner party were terrible and do not represent the company,” Travis Kalanick began before stating the “remarks shows a lack of leadership, a lack of humanity, and a departure from our values and ideals.” Michael floated the idea of smearing journalists and critics a dinner Friday attended by Ed Norton, Arianna Huffington, and Buzzfeed's Ben Smith, who broke the story. Michael said he believed his remarks were off the record and said he regrets saying it.