Uber's scandals, blunders and PR disasters: the full list

Uber has been rocked by a steady stream of scandals and negative publicity in recent years, including revelations of questionable spy programs, a high-stakes technology lawsuit, claims of sexual harassment and discrimination and embarrassing leaks about executive conduct. The PR disasters culminated in CEO Travis Kalanick taking an indefinite leave of absence this week and promises of bold reform that largely ignored the ride-hailing company's strained relationship with drivers. Here is a timeline of some of the most consequential controversies. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick faced backlash for a sexist joke about his increasing desirability, telling an Esquire reporter: "We call that Boob-er." Uber faced accusations that it booked thousands of fake rides from its competitor Lyft in an effort to cut into its profits and services.