Al Roker rails against cab driver passing him up for 'white guy'

The Wrap
November 23, 2015 at 2:28PM
FILE - This April 18, 2013 file photo released by NBC shows co-hosts Al Roker on the set of NBC News' "Today" show in New York. Roker should be awfully tired of saying �polar vortex," as he�s trying for a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest continuous live weather broadcast, aiming to beat the current record of 33 hours set in September by Norwegian TV personality Eli Kari Gjengedal. He�s doing it the hard way, starting Wednesday evening, Nov. 12, 2014, and going through t
FILE - This April 18, 2013 file photo released by NBC shows co-hosts Al Roker on the set of NBC News' "Today" show in New York. Roker should be awfully tired of saying �polar vortex," as he�s trying for a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest continuous live weather broadcast, aiming to beat the current record of 33 hours set in September by Norwegian TV personality Eli Kari Gjengedal. He�s doing it the hard way, starting Wednesday evening, Nov. 12, 2014, and going through two overnights so - if all goes right - he can break the record during �Today� on Friday. (Associated Press - Ap/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Al Roker went on a Twitter tirade on Sunday after a New York City cab driver passed on picking him up in favor of a "white guy" a block a way.

The NBC Today show weatherman said he filed a complaint over the matter.

"Filed a complaint today after getting passed up again by a NYC Yellow cab. Cabbie picked up a white guy a block away. Wonder why Uber wins?" he tweeted.

Roker went on to rail against racism perpetrated against African Americans by cab drivers.

This happens to folks of color every day. And while most cabbies do their job, there are those ignorant, racist ones who hurt the others

– Al Roker (@alroker) November 22, 2015

What really hurts, my 13 yr. old boy was with me and asked why the cabbie passed us. I said, "Nick, ignorant people make dumb choices" — Al Roker (@alroker) November 22, 2015

What really hurts, my 13 yr. old boy was with me and asked why the cabbie passed us. I said, "Nick, ignorant people make dumb choices"

– Al Roker (@alroker) November 22, 2015

Hopefully @nyctaxi weeds out the bad apples. Looking forward to a hearing and dealing with this. I will keep you posted — Al Roker (@alroker) November 22, 2015

@mariamadelyn_ he pulled up, I reached for the door, took off and went for the guy a block away. He saw me and took off for another fare

– Al Roker (@alroker) November 22, 2015

Roker's complaint has already received a response from the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission chair Meera Joshi.

"Service refusal goes to the core of the taxi industry's social contract with the riding public and it will not be tolerated," she told the New York Daily News.

"We're grateful that Mr. Roker took the time to file a complaint, and I can assure him that we will investigate this thoroughly and take every appropriate action."

(The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

The Wrap

More from No Section

See More
FILE -- A rent deposit slot at an apartment complex in Tucker, Ga., on July 21, 2020. As an eviction crisis has seemed increasingly likely this summer, everyone in the housing market has made the same plea to Washington: Send money — lots of it — that would keep renters in their homes and landlords afloat. (Melissa Golden/The New York Times) ORG XMIT: XNYT58
Melissa Golden/The New York Times

It’s too soon to tell how much the immigration crackdown is to blame.