An incident captured on video and shared online of an IU student pushing and mocking the accent of her Uber driver in October led to one arrest.
The IU Police Department arrested Abigail Ye on charges of battery resulting in injury, disorderly conduct and consumption of alcohol by a minor following the Oct. 24, 2025, incident. The interaction was caught on video by another passenger, who IUPD did not identify or charge, and has received recent backlash online.
In the video, Ye is recorded verbally harassing and then hitting her Uber driver.
IUPD Public Information Officer Hannah Cornett said in an email officers saw Ye push the driver in the face when they arrived on the scene.
The video shows Ye using profane language and mocking the accent of the Uber driver when he asks her repeatedly to get out of the car.
Ye further antagonized the driver and threatened to go to court, saying her mom would sue him.
The driver offered to show Ye his ID, and during the conversation she tried to take it repeatedly.
“Let’s go Abby, let’s go, he’s not, he's not legal, let’s go,” the person recording said from outside the car.
Ye then hit the driver, and both individuals exited the car. She began hitting him outside the vehicle, falling multiple times as he pushed her away.
IU spokesperson Mark Bode said the Office of Student Conduct is reviewing the incident but cannot share further information due to student privacy protections.
Bode did not respond when asked if Ye and the other student involved in the incident were still students at IU.
The video sparked criticism online, with social media users criticizing her behavior against the backdrop of recent national conflicts regarding immigration and calling for it to be reported to the Office of Student Conduct.
Ye entered a not guilty plea in October, and her jury trial is scheduled for April 15. Her attorney did not respond to a request for comment.
