A delivery robot's crash with a disabled man sparks controversy

A Southern California man with cerebral palsy used his iPhone to record his frustration as a delivery robot continuously swerved into the path of his mobility scooter before suddenly braking, resulting in a bot-on-chair collision.

- BY CLARA HARTER

MARK CHANEY says the Serve Robotics device repeatedly blocked his path.

(MARK CHANEY)

He had no clue the explosive impact the video would have.

Mark Chaney, a disability advocate, said he shared the video of the Sept. 12 collision in West Hollywood to raise awareness about challenges faced by people with disabilities and hold the company accountable for the robot's behavior.

Less than two weeks later, it has received more than 26 million views on TikTok and Instagram combined, generating fierce backlash against the company that created the bot as well as hateful attacks against Chaney.

Serve Robotics has drawn criticism for the behavior of the robot and the danger posed to people using scooters or wheelchairs.

The collision took place within days of another incident in which a Serve robot was recorded blocking the pathway of an activated L.A. Fire Department truck in Hollywood.

Chaney, for his part, has been accused of staging the incident for the sake of a lawsuit. Some online commenters have declared themselves "team robot" while others have made disparaging remarks about his disability.

"There's been a lot of online hate, which is to be expected when you go viral," he said. "But, you know, the death threats are not great."