Is Uber Too Disruptive to Fail?

We live in the era of “walking back,” politicians walking back a remark, speed-hungry reporters walking back the news. But is “walking back” even possible? Last Friday, Emil Michael, senior vice president of business at Uber, suggested that the company throw a cool million toward hiring a team of researchers and reporters in order, according to Buzzfeed, “to dig up dirt on its critics in the media—and specifically to spread details of the personal life of a female journalist who has criticized the company.” Through a spokeswoman, Michael released a statement in response, saying that “the remarks attributed to me at a private dinner...do not reflect my actual views.”

And Tuesday afternoon, in response to Michael’s remarks, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick unleashed an oddly unapologetic apology by tweetstorm: