Former Miss Slovakia
Toronto Model Kicked Out of Uber for Being Jewish: “I Don’t Drive Jewish People,” Driver Said
Toronto model and former Miss Slovakia Miriam Mattova alleges she was kicked out of an Uber after the driver said, “I don’t drive Jewish people,” sparking outrage over antisemitism and calls for stronger accountability from Uber.
Jewish Slovakian-Canadian model and former Miss Slovakia was allegedly forced out of an Uber in the middle of the night last week after the driver declared, “I don’t drive Jewish people,” according to the rider and reports now amplified across social media and Canadian news outlets.
Miriam Mattova, 33, a professional model who moved to Toronto full-time in April 2023 and has since become a vocal advocate for Israel, sharing her first visit to the country in November 2025, including stops at sites like the devastated Kibbutz Be’eri, was out with friends on November 30 when she booked a ride home through a friend.
Feeling unsafe walking alone after midnight, she hopped in the vehicle and joined a FaceTime call, casually mentioning her recent trip to Israel.The female driver suddenly slammed on the brakes at a busy intersection, Mattova recounted in an interview with the National Post.
When pressed for a reason, the driver cited discomfort and explicitly stated she did not drive Jewish people, leaving Mattova to exit into the dark street. She quickly ordered another Uber to complete the trip home safely, describing the encounter as “terrifying and humiliating” and a stark reminder of her Holocaust-survivor grandmother’s pre-war stories of antisemitism.
Mattova and her friend reported the incident to Uber immediately. After a four-day delay, a company representative called on December 4, issuing a full refund and a standard apology: “We would be following up with this driver to try to ensure an incident like this does not occur again.”
Uber has not publicly confirmed any further action against the driver, such as suspension or deactivation from the platform, drawing sharp criticism from Mattova and advocates.“I want to be clear that what happened is about far more than an uncomfortable ride home or a refunded fare,” Mattova told the National Post. “The incident I experienced was a direct act of antisemitism, and the reason I’m speaking about it is because moments like this must be confronted openly... A serious incident involving hate should trigger immediate action within 24 hours. Anything less allows prejudice to just go unchecked.”
In a statement on Friday, an Uber Canada spokesperson reiterated: “Discrimination is unacceptable, and we’re deeply sorry for the experience this rider had. We are investigating this report and have been in touch with the rider. Hate and discrimination have no place on the Uber platform.” The company did not respond to specific questions about the driver’s status or internal protocols for handling such complaints.Toronto police confirmed no criminal complaint has been filed, treating it as a civil matter.
The story exploded on X.
Jewish advocacy groups, including B’nai Brith Canada, have urged Uber to disclose the driver’s removal and publish hate-related complaint statistics, calling it part of a “300% surge” in Canadian antisemitic incidents since October 7, 2023.
Mattova, who has faced professional backlash, including lost Instagram followers and a dropped PR agency, for her pro-Israel posts, emphasized the broader impact: “What happened isn’t just an unpleasant moment. It’s a reminder of why speaking up matters.”
This marks the latest in a wave of reported ride-share refusals and attacks on Jews in North America and Europe since the Hamas attacks on Israel, including assaults on a rabbi in Washington, D.C., and a Jewish man in California.