When Courtney Love got caught in the middle of a Paris protest on Thursday, things got messy when a mob attacked the car she was traveling in.
A major protest by French taxi drivers against the spread of Uber in the city halted traffic on the city streets, particularly near the city's Charles de Gaulle Airport as hundreds of drivers blocked roadways.
The demonstration was part of a planned, nationwide protest against the app, specifically against the lowest-cost "UberPOP" service. Drivers burned tires and blocked access to the airport and flipped cars on city streets.
Love first tweeted a photo of an egg that was smashed on the window of a car she was traveling in -- and, for some reason, reached out to Kanye West in her time of need.
Dude @kanyewest we may turn back to the airport and hide out with u.picketers just attacked our car #ParisUberStrike pic.twitter.com/MtanurybOO— Courtney Love Cobain (@Courtney) June 25, 2015
She likened the security situation in the City of Light to that in Baghdad, and had a few choice words for the Parisian police department and President Francois Hollande.
Love's main message to the leader: "Get your ass to the airport."
they've ambushed our car and are holding our driver hostage. they're beating the cars with metal bats. this is France?? I'm safer in Baghdad— Courtney Love Cobain (@Courtney) June 25, 2015
François Hollande where are the fucking police??? is it legal for your people to attack visitors? Get your ass to the airport. Wtf???— Courtney Love Cobain (@Courtney) June 25, 2015
According to Love's account, which she tweeted from in quick succession from the back of her cab, she "paid some guys on motorcycles to sneak us out, got chased by a mob of taxi drivers who threw rocks" and passed by police officer who "did nothing."
we got out after being held hostage for an hour thanks to these two guys. I'm scared out of my wits. Mr. François Hollande president or libertine? I can't believe this really just happened. love French people but your government blows #happytobealive #parisuberstrike wtf?? A photo posted by Courtney Love Cobain (@courtneylove) on Jun 25, 2015 at 5:51am PDT
She also posted a video showing protesting cab drivers cornering her car.
how on earth are these people allowed to do this? the first car was destroyed, all tires slashed and beat with bats, these guys trying to open the doors and the cops are doing nothing?? French Taliban? civil reform needed in France?? I want to go home A video posted by Courtney Love Cobain (@courtneylove) on Jun 25, 2015 at 5:19am PDT
The protest was a result of rising tensions between licensed taxis and Uber. French taxi drivers pay up to 240,000 euros for their licenses, and are furious over the rise of the ride share app that allows private drivers to cut in on their revenue.
Hundreds of cars blocked the major highway surrounding the city, called the peripherique, and protests were planned in other cities across the country.