Get All Access for $5/mo

The Celebs Who Lashed Out at NYC's Mayor Over the Uber Cap Ashton Kutcher, Neil Patrick Harris and Kate Upton weren't happy with Bill de Blasio's attack on the ride-sharing company.

By Laura Entis

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

DFree | Shutterstock.com

Ashton Kutcher, Neil Patrick Harris and Kate Upton have more in common than simply wealth, fame and facial symmetry.

This week, all three celebrities took to Twitter to lash out at New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for pushing a bill that would put limitations on the number of cars Uber can operate at any given time in the city. And it appears their voices were heard: This afternoon, de Blasio dropped the proposal.

Of course, celebrities were hardly the only ones fighting. Uber has been aggressively – and creatively -- attacking the bill for some time. In addition to traditional television spots, the ridesharing company launched a "de Blasio" app feature meant to rally support among New Yorkers. (Located next to traditional Uber options such as uberX and uberBLACK, app users who click on the "de Blasio option" are informed: "This is what Uber will look like in NYC if Mayor de Blasio's Uber cap bill passes." In other words: If de Blasio gets his way, there won't be any rides left.)

Actor Neil Patrick Harris and supermodel Kate Upton weighed in this afternoon. Collectively, the two have more than 19 million followers:

Meanwhile, Ashton Kutcher unleashed a massive tweet storm onto his 17 million followers, attacking de Blasio for, among other things, supporting a bill that would take away jobs.Not to mention denying New Yorkers a basic right.

Related: What Uber Has Learned About Expansion, Hurdles and Growing Pains

Of course, there's been speculation that the sudden celeb-fueled outpouring of support isn't happenstance.

Uber has already denied paying for Kate Upton's endorsement.

In New York City, which has a population approaching 8.5 million, Uber is threatening the legacy world of yellow taxi cabs. Last month, while there were more than 14 million yellow taxi cab pickups, there were also nearly 3.5 million Uber pickups. The disparity is big, but with Uber on a tear, it's hard to envision a scenario where it doesn't narrow.

Related: 5 Entrepreneurial Lessons From Uber on Its 5-Year Anniversary

For those interested, here's Kutcher's tweetstorm in full:
Laura Entis

Staff Writer. Frequently covers tech, business psychology, social media, startups and digital advertising.

Laura Entis is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Most Popular

See all
Starting a Business

How to Find the Right Programmers: A Brief Guideline for Startup Founders

For startup founders under a plethora of challenges like timing, investors and changing market demand, it is extremely hard to hire programmers who can deliver.

By Vasily Voropaev
Fundraising

Working Remote? These Are the Biggest Dos and Don'ts of Video Conferencing

As more and more businesses go remote, these are ways to be more effective and efficient on conference calls.

By Bryan Lovgren
Growing a Business

You Need an Advisory Team More Than Ever. Here's Why — and How to Run One Effectively.

The right advice, particularly in a company's early stages, can be an existential matter: how to surround yourself with the right minds.

By Kalon Gutierrez
Growing a Business

The Best Way to Run a Business Meeting

All too often, meetings run longer than they should and fail to keep attendees engaged. Here's how to run a meeting the right way.

By Jacqueline Whitmore
Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

By Eve Gumpel
Growing a Business

4 Financial Blind Spots That Could Be Preventing You From Making More Money

If you're ready to grow but feel stagnated and not sure why, check out these common money secrets where revenue is hiding.

By Jennelle McGrath