A Toronto-based model and former Miss Slovakia, Miriam Mattova, says a late-night Uber ride on November 30 ended in an act of discrimination after the driver abruptly stopped the vehicle and ordered her to get out.

Mattova, 33, alleges the driver overheard her speaking during a FaceTime call about a recent trip to Israel and reacted by refusing to continue the ride. According to Mattova, the driver told her, “I don’t drive Jewish people,” before forcing her to exit the vehicle at a busy intersection.

She described the incident as blatant antisemitism and said she felt shocked and unsafe. Mattova, a Slovak-Canadian citizen, has publicly spoken about her involvement with charitable organizations that support Israelis affected by ongoing conflict.

Following the incident, Mattova filed formal complaints with Uber, seeking accountability and action against the driver involved.

In a statement, Uber apologized for Mattova’s experience, stating that discrimination of any kind violates the company’s policies. Uber said it conducted a review and took “appropriate action,” though it did not specify what measures were implemented.

The incident comes amid heightened concerns about antisemitism in Canada and globally, with advocacy groups reporting an increase in discriminatory incidents since the escalation of conflicts in the Middle East.

Mattova has said she hopes sharing her experience will raise awareness and encourage stronger enforcement of anti-discrimination policies on ride-sharing platforms.

Uber has reiterated that both riders and drivers are expected to treat one another with respect and that violations of its community guidelines are taken seriously.