‘It’s kind of a tragedy’: behind the battle for power at Uber

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Travis Kalanick, the Uber founder whose ‘confidence did turn into hubris’. Composite: Showtime

In dark jacket, grey sweater and white undershirt, Travis Kalanick was relaxed in comfy chair, coffee mug before him, shooting the breeze with late-night TV host Stephen Colbert. Then came a cry from the studio audience.

“Shame! Respect drivers’ labour! Respect professional full-time work!” The camera picked out a T-shirt-wearing protester who, standing and cupping his hands to his mouth, yelled: “Uber exploits taxi drivers for profit and kills professional full-time work in the taxi industry!”