- Frances Barber claims she was verbally accosted by an Uber taxi driver
- She said he told her she was 'disgustingly dressed' and shouldn't be out
- Miss Barber tweeted that she was 'shocked' and had reported the incident
Actress Frances Barber was verbally accosted by a ‘sharia’ taxi driver for her 'disgusting appearance' after she attended the Evening Standard Theatre Awards (pictured)
Dressed in an elegant gown and dazzling earrings, she had enjoyed a night of glamour alongside the cream of showbusiness at an awards ceremony.
But for actress Frances Barber, the evening ended on a sour note after she was verbally accosted by a ‘sharia’ taxi driver.
Miss Barber, 58, who plays a barrister in BBC1 legal drama Silk, claimed the man, whom she booked through mobile phone app Uber, said she was ‘disgustingly dressed’ and that women should not be out at night.
After the encounter, which is believed to have taken place in the early hours of yesterday, she wrote on Twitter: 'Just had a sharia Uber driver, first time in London. Shocked. Reported.'
The term ‘sharia’ seemingly refers to sharia law, which is based on an interpretation of Islamic teachings. It is often criticised for being discriminatory against women.
Miss Barber, who had been at London’s Old Vic theatre for the Evening Standard Theatre Awards, said in a second Twitter post: 'I get Uber out of Old Vic & driver says as a woman I shouldn’t be alone at night & I am disgustingly dressed. THIS IS LONDON.'
The acclaimed actress had worn a demure black ensemble with a high-necked top and floor-length skirt to the event, which was attended by stars such as Gillian Anderson, Gemma Arterton and Kate Beckinsale.
After leaving the event, she booked the taxi through Uber, which sends your location to the company’s nearby cars, one of which will pick you up.
She said she mentioned that it was a cold night, to which the driver responded: ‘Well if you weren’t so disgustingly dressed...’
When one of her Twitter followers asked how she reacted, she said she was so angry she ‘got out of cab, slammed door & yelled’.
Uber has apologised for the incident and claimed it will be taking ‘appropriate action’.
But it did not confirm whether the driver has been suspended or an investigation launched.
The company is reported to have more than 15,000 drivers in London – and rising.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3331164/Sharia-taxi-driver-told-disgustingly-dressed-BBC-star-Frances-Barber-tells-accosted-Uber-employee-showbusiness-awards-ceremony.html#ixzz3sPMI86IS
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