After occurrences involving race cause a stir, Uber Diversity Chief was fired

After an attempt to quell employee outrage over a workplace event about race dubbed “Don’t Call Me Karen” failed, an Uber Technologies Inc. executive was suspended.

Bo Young Lee, Uber’s longtime head of diversity, was placed on leave last week, according to a representative for the ride-hailing business.

The “Karen” label, which is used to characterize a white woman who is seen as entitled or demanding, was discussed at an event Lee organized last month that focused on what it’s like to be an American white woman.

A “moving forward” discussion was conducted on Wednesday to address concerns after the inaugural event provoked criticism among some employees who felt the dialogues were contemptuous of people of color.

Internal Slack postings said Lee didn’t give workers enough time to air their complaints, but it only served to fuel even more “outrage” among the workforce.

Both incidents “caused much upset and concern” and were reported to Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi and Chief People Officer Nikki Krishnamurthy.

Although it was intended to be a dialogue, Krishnamurthy wrote in an email to the staff on Thursday that it was clear that many in attendance did not feel heard.

News of Lee’s disappearance was first reported by The New York Times.

After Lee’s suspension was announced, coworkers commended Khosrowshahi’s prompt response in Slack chats. One employee wrote, “I guess Dara decided to listen to us!!”