NEW YORK CITY — "#Delete Uber” is trending after the transportation app temporarily canceled surge pricing for rides to and from JFK Airport Saturday.
The move angered some users who saw it as a bid to undercut taxi drivers who were boycotting rides to the airport at the time.
The taxi drivers voluntarily stopped taking people to and from the airport to protest the travel ban.
The company responded to the criticism a few hours later and linked a statement from UBER's CEO Travis Kalanick.
Kalanick said Uber would compensate drivers impacted by the ban pro bono for the next 3 months as well as provide them legal support.
He said a $3 million legal defense fund had been set up.
Canceling #Uber like.... #bye #nomuslimban #teamfreedomoverfear #teamstopdefendinghate… https://t.co/ka5kXcGiuQ
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) January 29, 2017
Am I going to miss @Uber ? pic.twitter.com/JrpLYZGBgl
— Jordan Peele (@JordanPeele) January 29, 2017
@Uber @Uber_NYC @Uber_Support - Just deleted my Uber app. If they won't stand with us, I won't ride with them. Use @lyft @Way2rideapp
— Denis O'Hare (@denisohare) January 29, 2017
Kalanick is being criticized, though, for his relationship with Donald Trump.
He's facing backlash for agreeing to sit on Trump's business advisory group panel.
Kalanick says he'll bring up his concerns about the travel ban directly with the president himself during a meeting in Washington Friday.
Meanwhile, Uber's competitor, Lyft, has promised to donate 1 million dollars to the Amercian Civil Liberties Union.
The ride-hailing company announced its major donation to the organization dedicated to defending individual rights on Sunday.