Uber Suspends Diversity Chief Over “Don’t Call Me Karen” Events

(CTN News) – The head of Uber’s diversity and inclusion department has been suspended following complaints from Black and Hispanic employees regarding the events she moderated under the title “Don’t Call Me Karen” that explored the experiences of white American women in the workplace.

In a statement, the ride-hailing app confirmed that it has asked Bo Young Lee, who has led its DEI department for five years, to take a leave of absence while it determines ‘next steps’.

In light of the company’s corporate culture, her suspension is part of the latest wave of chaos to affect the $72 billion company.

Lee’s suspension follows mounting internal discontent following two “Don’t Call Me Karen” sessions she convened on Zoom for up to 500 employees.

There were two events, one in April and the second last week, intended to explore the experience of the Uber American white woman from the perspective of some of our female colleagues, in particular how they navigate around the ‘Karen’ persona.

A series of “Moving Forward” discussions was organized by Uber in response to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

The emphasis on white women’s discomfort over the term “Karen” was denounced by several employees as insensitive toward people of color.

There have been reports of Uber employees feeling lectured in internal Slack channels for Black and Hispanic employees. According to an African American woman, the meeting was more like a lecture – she felt that she was being scolded throughout the entire event.

“I think when people are called Karens, it implies that they lack empathy or are bothered by minorities. In other words, why should bad behavior not be addressed? “, according to another participant.

The term “Karen” has been used to refer to the actions of entitled white women who report Black and minority ethnic employees to superiors or authorities.

During a famous incident in New York’s Central Park in 2020, a white woman called the police on a Black man who was calmly birdwatching.

In the New York Times, a Black staffer argued that after the first “Don’t Call Me Karen” event, diversity sessions should not include “tone-deaf, offensive, and triggering discussions”.

According to reports, Lee responded, “Sometimes it is a good idea to be pushed out of one’s own strategic ignorance.”

Following the resignation in 2017 of its chief executive, Travis Kalanick, after months of scandal, Uber has worked diligently to improve and modernize its workplace culture.

The company was alleged by a whistleblower to have fostered widespread gender discrimination and sexual harassment under his leadership.

Dara Khosrowshahi, Kalanick’s successor as chief executive, has promised to change Uber’s culture. He has focused his efforts on DEI, led by Lee, whom he brought into the company in 2018.

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