SINGAPORE — Grab Singapore has apologised after its new microdrama, I Fell In Love With My Grab Driver, sparked criticism from netizens who said the romantic storyline raised concerns about passenger safety, harassment and professional boundaries.
The series stars actress-model Regina Lim and actor Glenn Yong and follows a caregiver who meets a Grab driver before their relationship develops beyond their initial encounter. The show’s title and promotional trailer, however, drew criticism online from people who felt it could romanticise inappropriate interactions between drivers and passengers.
Trailer draws mixed reactions
The microdrama centres on Emily, played by Regina Lim, a member of the “sandwich generation” who is juggling caregiving responsibilities, family and work.
She meets Henry, played by Glenn Yong, a Grab driver who later becomes part of her personal life.
A trailer released on Sept 4 showed the pair first meeting during a ride before featuring several later interactions, including Henry appearing as a delivery rider and helping Emily after she falls.
The promotional material included the question: “What if your Grab driver becomes the love of your life?”
Some viewers raise concerns
While some netizens welcomed the project as a light-hearted and entertaining campaign, others questioned whether the concept was appropriate given concerns about harassment and inappropriate behaviour in ride-hailing services.
Some critics described the campaign as “tone deaf”, while others said it appeared to romanticise a breach of professional boundaries.
TikTok users also joined the discussion, with some warning that drivers should not interpret the fictional storyline as encouragement to flirt with passengers.
Grab responds to backlash
Grab Singapore addressed the criticism in a statement posted on Sept 8.
The company said that safety, respect and clear boundaries should never be compromised in everyday interactions.
Grab explained that the project was intended as a fast-paced and deliberately exaggerated romantic comedy aimed at people from the sandwich generation.
The storyline includes elements commonly found in microdramas, such as hidden identities, love triangles and heightened family conflicts.
Romance develops outside the ride
Grab also clarified that although Emily and Henry first meet in a driver-passenger setting, their romantic relationship develops later in their personal lives.
The company said the dramatic title was chosen to match the style of the microdrama format.
However, Grab acknowledged that it should have been more careful about how the title could be interpreted.
Company apologises for discomfort
In its response, Grab apologised for the concerns raised by viewers.
The company said it understood why the title could raise questions about safety and stressed that inappropriate actions or conversations are never acceptable, whether involving passengers, drivers or delivery partners.
Grab added that this was its first attempt at producing content in the microdrama format and said it would take feedback into account for future projects.
Series premieres on social media
Despite the controversy, I Fell In Love With My Grab Driver premiered on Grab’s social media platforms on Sept 9.
The reaction to the series highlights the challenge brands face when using fictional entertainment to promote services that involve real-world safety expectations and professional boundaries.
The bottom line
Grab Singapore has apologised after its new microdrama starring Glenn Yong and Regina Lim triggered concerns that its title and storyline could romanticise inappropriate relationships between ride-hailing drivers and passengers.
The company clarified that the romance in the story develops outside the driver-passenger relationship and stressed that safety, respect and professional boundaries should never be compromised.
While Grab intended the project as an exaggerated romantic comedy, the backlash has shown that fictional storylines involving real-world services can raise serious concerns when they touch on issues of harassment and passenger safety.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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