A driver for a ride-hailing service in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, has been temporarily banned from the platform for 21 days following allegations of inappropriate behavior during a trip. The incident, which took place on June 8, was reported by Zhejiang TV.
The driver, surnamed Zhao, allegedly made repeated comments about the female passenger’s scent. When she denied wearing perfume, he responded, “The smell from your body is so good,” leaving her feeling uneasy. She clarified that the fragrance came from her laundry detergent, but Zhao pressed further, asking for the brand name. Uncomfortable, she exited the vehicle before reaching her destination and later filed a complaint with the ride-hailing company.
After reviewing audio recordings from the car, the company swiftly suspended Zhao. In his defense, Zhao claimed he was merely curious about the scent, suggesting it might be a good car freshener. He insisted his tone was polite and denied any malicious intent, stating, “If she hadn’t replied, I wouldn’t have kept asking. I really don’t think I said anything wrong.”
However, the passenger disputed his account, describing his remarks as startling and inappropriate. She explained that she initially didn’t realize he was speaking to her and only understood when he glanced at her through the rear-view mirror while repeating the question. Out of caution for her safety, she chose to remain composed and polite during the ride.
“I was shocked when he said I smelled good,” she said in an interview. “No one wants to hear that from a stranger. My polite response was misread as encouragement. Anyone would feel uneasy in that situation.”
Zhao has expressed remorse and hopes to return to work, offering to apologize to the passenger.
The case has ignited widespread debate on Chinese social media. While many users criticized Zhao’s actions as a clear violation of personal boundaries, others argued for the release of the audio recording to allow the public to assess the context independently.
