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Nov 02, 2024

Passenger who pepper-sprayed Muslim Uber driver fired from PR job

The Uber passenger charged with a hate crime for pepper-spraying a Muslim driver in Manhattan is a former sorority girl who was fired from her PR job over the shocking incident. Manhattan College

The Uber passenger charged with a hate crime for pepper-spraying a Muslim driver in Manhattan is a former sorority girl who was fired from her PR job over the shocking incident.

Manhattan College graduate Jennifer Guilbeault, 23, had just started a promising career at a New York public relations firm when she was caught on dashcam springing forward to spray her rideshare driver in July, horrifying the pal who was with her.

Her employer, D Pagan Communications in Melville, fired her over the shocking incident. Agency president Debra Pagan confirmed to PR Weekly that Guilbeault had left the firm, without saying when she left.

“We are aware of the actions of this former employee and we don’t condone this behavior,” the company, which specializes in PR for tech companies, said on X in August.

Guilbeault’s attorneys argued that the case should not be handled as a hate crime — and that a full review of the evidence would prove that.

“Ms. Guilbeault was not motivated by race, religion, national origin, or any other discriminatory factor,” Michael J. Alber said in a statement.

“This case needs to be looked at with all surrounding circumstances which include assessing all of the evidence and lack of evidence,” he added.

“We look forward to working with the District Attorney’s Office to fully vet all of the facts in the proper forum, which does not embellish or exaggerate the claims, especially where the integrity and credibility of claims can properly be tested.”

Guilbeault, a native of Northbridge, Mass., earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations, advertising and applied communication at the Bronx university, where she also served as the VP social chair for her sorority, Sigma Delta Tau, according to an online profile.

Glitzy photos posted to the Manhattan College chapter’s social media page show her and her sisters dressing up for formals and celebrating scholarships.

Guilbeault was indicted in New York State Supreme Court on two counts of assault as a hate crime and aggravated harassment for the Upper East Side attack, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Guilbeault was riding in the backseat with the other woman around 12:15 a.m. when she suddenly sprayed the noxious substance in the 45-year-old driver’s eyes, according to a viral clip circulating online.

The driver, Shohel Mahmud, later claimed that Guilbeault launched her assault simply because of his skin color. He said he hadn’t spoken at all to the women when he picked them up near Lexington Avenue and East 66th Street in Midtown.

“Her friend, she is yelling, ‘Jen, Jen, what the f–k, what are you doing? What’s going on?’” Mahmud told The Post days after the attack. “Her friend is asking, ‘Why did you do that?’ And she say, ‘He’s brown.’”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Guilbeault attacked the driver when he began praying in Arabic just as he approached a red light.

The father of three jumped out of the car, thinking the women were trying to rob him and his vehicle. When he hopped back inside as the car started to roll, she maced him again.

Cops arrested Guilbeault at the scene, but initially only gave her a desk ticket.