Taxi Shaming in Tel Aviv: When It Crosses the Line

Shaming that crossed all boundaries: When Itai Lukach ordered a taxi in his hometown of Tel Aviv this week, he never imagined it would turn into a painful and humiliating experience. The driver's blunt reaction when he saw Lukach waiting on the sidewalk was shocking. "He said he wouldn't let me in the taxi," Lukach recalls, completely taken aback by the bizarre response.

At first, he thought it was because of the bag he was holding in his hand, but couldn't figure out why. Only after a brief conversation did the driver explain why he wouldn't allow Lukach into his cab. "You're too fat, and you'll ruin my seats," he said.

According to Lukach, he was in shock, but unfortunately, this is not the first time he has experienced this from taxi drivers. "On average, in one out of ten rides, I receive comments about my appearance," Lukach shared in an interview with 'Israel Hayom.'

"Some comments I ignore, and some I report. Some suggest I undergo gastric bypass surgery, while others suggest I eat salads and drink water, and some speak more harshly, asking, 'What girl would want you this way?' They just don't know that I'm engaged, and yes – some do want me as I am," he concludes, adding, "Imagine if this were a 14-15-year-old girl who already suffers from low self-esteem?! You don't know where it could lead, and how it might end. Let's not even think about it, but taxi companies must do the most important thing - preventative action: raising awareness among drivers and explaining to them the rules of interaction with passengers, which includes not making comments on their appearance."