No Fare: London Uber Driver Kicks Out Gay Couple for Kissing

Allegedly homophobic cab drivers aren't a uniquely American phenomenon, one British gay couple learned this holiday season.

Two gay men were picked up in London's Covent Gardens neighborhood by an Uber driver on New Year's Day, only to be kicked out of the car after the driver saw the two kissing, reports Britain's ITV.

It was about 8 p.m. New Year's Day when Cory Watts and Jordan Sloan, both 23, got into the Uber driver's car after requesting a ride via Uber's popular and occasionally controversial mobile app.

Just minutes after picking up the couple, the driver allegedly pulled over and left them by the side of the road.

"We were kissing and cuddled next to each other, when a minute or two after picking us up he pulled over and told us to get out," Sloan told ITV.

Watts admits to getting "a little hot-headed" with the driver, who he said told the couple he takes gays for rides all the time, but that they "don't normally do this."

Uber says it has suspended the driver pending an investigation, adding that the company has no room for homophobia.

"Uber does not tolerate any form of discrimination either by our partner drivers or towards our partner drivers," an Uber spokesman told ITV. "We opened an investigation from the moment we learned of this unacceptable incident and have been in contact with the rider to extended our sincere apologies and get further information."

Uber has weathered critical media coverage in recent months, including news that it used the app's location function to track customers between rides and that one of its executives plotted to smear journalists who have reported negatively on the company.

Last year Uber hired Obama media guru David Plough as an adviser. The company is worth an estimated $18 billion.