DoorDash's chief executive has been forced to publicly confront a damaging viral hoax that falsely accused a major food delivery platform of using a secret "Desperation Score" to determine drivers' pay.
CEO's Forceful Rejection of Dehumanising Claims
The controversy erupted after a Reddit post, written by a user claiming to be a developer at a food delivery app, went viral on X (formerly Twitter). The post, which did not name DoorDash, made a series of shocking allegations. It claimed the unnamed company treated drivers as "human assets" and used a hidden algorithm to calculate a "Desperation Score" based on their willingness to accept low-paying orders.
On Saturday 4 January 2026, DoorDash CEO and co-founder Tony Xu reposted a screenshot of the Reddit post on X. His response was unequivocal: "Holy f***ing sh*t is right! This is not DoorDash, and I would fire anyone who promoted or tolerated the kind of culture described in this Reddit post."
Xu addressed each claim individually, stating firmly that "dashers are not 'human assets'" and labelling the concept of a "Desperation Score" as "an abomination". He also denied the existence of a "Driver Benefit Fee" that supposedly funded anti-union lobbying.
The Viral Hoax and Its Debunking
The now-debunked Reddit post alleged that an algorithm would tag drivers as 'High Desperation' if they consistently accepted low-value orders without hesitation. It claimed the system would then withhold higher-paying jobs from these drivers, under the logic: "Why pay this guy $15 for a run when we know he’s desperate enough to do it for $6?".
The claims were investigated and exposed as a fabrication by the technology news site Platformer. A reporter contacted the Reddit user, who reportedly tried to support their story with AI-generated evidence, including a fake Uber Eats work badge. The user also refused to put the reporter in touch with any colleagues who could verify the allegations.
Despite the swift debunking, the post had already been seen by millions, forcing Xu to act to protect his company's reputation. DoorDash also published a detailed rebuttal on its official website, countering each point from the viral post.
Past Controversies and Ongoing Scrutiny
While DoorDash has vehemently denied the specific policies described in the hoax, the company is no stranger to controversy over its labour practices. In February 2025, the company was ordered to pay nearly $17 million to settle a case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
The settlement resolved claims that DoorDash had used customers' tips to subsidise drivers' base pay between May 2017 and September 2019, a practice it has since discontinued. This historical context contributed to the post's virality and the public's readiness to believe the alarming claims.
In his statement, Xu acknowledged DoorDash is "not perfect by *any* stretch of the imagination," but concluded: "What’s described here is appalling, and if true, whoever is operating in this manner should be ashamed." The incident highlights the intense scrutiny and rapid spread of misinformation facing gig economy platforms in the UK and globally.
