AVALON -- Uber says it has fired a driver after he was allegedly recorded fondling himself in the back of a car as he complimented his female passenger's body.

A story posted by The Daily Mail quoted a spokesman for Uber saying the driver would no longer be doing any work for the ride sharing app.

"The driver has been permanently removed from the Uber platform for his inappropriate behavior, and we have reached out to the rider to apologize for such an uncomfortable experience," the spokesman told The Daily Mail.



Uber later said the driver was a partner on the UberBLACK platform, licensed through the Philadelphia Parking Authority. The company added that the video was taken nearly two weeks ago, and said it had not determined whether the incident occurred on an Uber trip.

The video (WARNING: Contains graphic content) was posted on Facebook by a man who said he was a friend of the woman in the car.

The Facebook post states, "My friend just shared this on her page from a Uber trip she had tonight in Avalon, N.J. tonight. The driver got in the backseat with her and started fondling himself."

The video shows a middle aged man rubbing his crotch over his pants as he tells the woman in a heavy accent, "I love your body. My god, I love your body. Your body is beautiful."

The woman says to him, in slurred speech, "I don't, I don't," though it's not clear from the video what she means.

The man then tells her, "No, you do, you do. Why you say you don't? You do."

"What do you want me to do?" he says to her.

"I don't know," she says. "(Inaudible) buggin' me out."

The man then gets out of the car as he tells her, "Have a good night. Call me, alright?"

The Uber trip apparently originated in Sea Isle City and ended in Avalon. It was not immediately clear if the woman contacted police.

There is a bill pending in New Jersey that would impose regulations on Uber and other ride-sharing apps like those governing the taxi industry, including requiring background checks for drivers.

Jeffrey Shanker, president of the Limousine Association of New Jersey, said the incident "clearly demonstrates why common sense reform for additional public safety protection is needed," for ride sharing apps.

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow hin on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.