Draft Episode for Sep 17, 2026

0:00When fall comes back around, there's a sense of a reset. And new pieces from Lululemon's fall drop are an inspiration to push your goals and elevate your routines. As your calendar fills, easy to layer styles meet the demands of your day. And as you challenge yourself to try even more, versatile sets transition with you. The Lululemon fall lineup brings new levels of comfort and confidence, whether you're starting something fresh or starting something over. Check out the latest arrivals in store at on Lululemon.com now. This is Nightline. Tonight, Uber Nightmare, a young UCLA grad out for a night of fun. It was just supposed to be a night of dancing, a night of some drinks. When her ride home takes a horrifying turn, he had left us both on the freeway to die. Her heartbroken family fighting for justice and winning a $40 million decision, now speaking out for the first time. Emily would have been on a freeway to have been hit by a car if Uber hadn't put her there.

1:05And what their legal battle could mean for you? Plus, Royal Drama, Princess Diana's brother, spilling the tea in his new book, what was going on behind the scenes with the Royal Family after Diana's death, and Daniel Brooks back on the big screen and appointed new drama. I read through all of those letters that you sent me. He was a whole different person. Normally, the characters have players, so violations are bold. But with this, I got to show a different side. The star of the color purple. I want to thank you, Miss. Here you are auditioning for Sophia, and you've got Oprah calling you. And why is she almost passed on her breakout role in Oranges the New Black? My character was supposed to be topped with something like this is my way into the industry. From ABC News headquarters in New York, this is Nightline.

2:15Good evening, and thank you for joining us. I'm Deborah Roberts. Tonight, millions of Americans order an Uber for a safe ride home after a night out, and maybe a few drinks. A young college grad in California did exactly that, but with tragic consequences. Her parents fought the company and is now sharing their cautionary tale exclusively with ABC News. Here's Trevor Alt. Every day, many days, we're just light-married. It's been three years since the knock at the door that changed Ken Parker and Terrell Normand in lives. But police told them that night still haunts them. Their 23-year-old daughter, Emily, had been hit and killed on a California highway after an Uber driver kicked her and her friend out of his vehicle. Emily would have been on a freeway to have been hit by a car if Uber hadn't put her there. The couple has now been awarded $40 million after taking on the ride-share giant, and

3:18they're still demanding accountability. Personally, I always thought Uber took responsibility for what their drivers did. I was shocked to find out they don't, and absolutely shocked. It's their driver. They were the one that matched the driver with Emily, specifically matched that driver with Emily to get in an Uber. And the friend who survived, now talking about what exactly happened in the minutes leading up to Emily's death. He had left us both on the freeway. All he would have had to do was pull off the exit and at least kick us out on the sidewalk. But now he dumped us in the most dangerous spot of the freeway. Emily Normand and Parker was raised in Laguna Beach with two younger brothers. Family says she was born both brave and bold. One, you just think about who Emily was as a person. What are the things that stand out to you? Athletic, curious, adventurous, introverted, but an advocate.

4:23She realized if she could learn to advocate, she could support other people. She was extremely kind. After graduating from the Orange County School of the Arts, Emily went to UCLA. She graduated from the School of Theater Film and Television in 2022. We met when we were 16. We were juniors in high school. Actually, I know the exact day because Emily commemorated it in the calendar so we could celebrate every year. Then we were pretty much inseparable. Emily's friend Luna Morlittore was with her that night. She had a very distinct laugh. When she thought something was funny, she would squeeze her eyes shut and wrinkle her nose. Her hand would fly up to her mouth. And if you were really lucky, you would get a snort laugh. You would go to karaoke. She was an incredible singer. She did not like dancing before we became friends. And then, after we'd spent some time together, she really developed a joy and appreciation

5:26for it. On August 12, 2023, the night Emily died, she and Luna had gone out to a local club. It was just supposed to be a night of dancing, a night of some drinks. And you know, we did the responsible thing. We knew we'd be drinking. So we took an Uber to the club and we took an Uber back from the club. Part of Uber's marketing campaign focuses on providing safe rides for people out partying. The company even partners with mothers against drunk driving. Emily's driver, a man named Vu Tran, picked up the 23-year-olds from a bar and admitted in testimony that he knew they were drunk. There were no interactions with the driver while we were driving. The drive was pretty uneventful until I threw up. He yelled at us to get out of the car and he kicked us out on the freeway. And it was around one in the morning, pitch dark. And he just starts yelling at me and he and I go back and forth, you know, about paying him back for the damage on the outside of his car.

6:29The driver had pulled over at what's called a gore point. It's the part of the road between the highway lanes and the exit lanes. It's illegal to stop there in California. The driver testified he thought it was the safest place, but he later admitted he was wrong. Emily got overwhelmed. She walked away. Emily had walked into traffic, a car hit her and she died right there. A few minutes later, I just, I heard a loud crash. The police ended up driving me home and I screamed so loud that like for a solid like four hours I couldn't hear anything, everything I just shot my own ear drums. In legal documents, after the driver left the scene, he called Uber to report a quote safety concern. He then requested Emily's account be charged a cleaning fee, which Uber replied. By the time law enforcement showed up, it was too late for Emily. I have immense survivors guilt that I've processed in therapy. I still wake up in the middle of the night and I just ask myself like, why do I, why did

7:33I get to live? Wouldn't she did it? Never contacted us about anything. They just sent us a bill for the cleaning fee. That's it. And for the rug. That's their only communication with us. The investigation in legal battle took years. Carolyn Ken went after Uber for damages. They went through arbitration, which is a private process overseen by a neutral third party. In this case, it was a retired judge. The driver was also named and testified in that arbitration. He has not faced any criminal charges. Uber claims their drivers are actually independent contractors, so the company was not at fault. They don't take any responsibility for their drivers. That's one of the things that I found shocking and disturbing and wrong, morally wrong and legally wrong. Uber says its core product is the app. They don't own the cars or directly hire the drivers, so they argue they are a technology company, not a transportation company. Some critics and judges have disagreed. And the judge in this case sided with Carolyn Ken.

8:35A couple of things. So the judge that we had is a retired California Superior Court judge. So prosecutor before that, he has lots and lots of experience. Ian Samson represented them and he says the judge's decision encouraged Uber to change their practices. He singled out the driver training, the complaints, and then what he called the company's general approach to safety. And he said, I'm troubled by all this and changing the policies and practices is something Uber should do. The judge ordered Uber and the driver to pay Carolyn Ken a staggering 40 million dollars. What was the feeling when the judge not just agreed with you but issued such substantial penalties to Uber? I wanted Emily. I didn't want that. I think that's the first thing that hit. It's not her. There's 40 million dollars. That's a big deal. I don't care. Well, no one would. No one would give up their child for that.

9:36Even after that award, Carolyn Ken say Uber fought to keep them quiet, trying to keep that decision confidential. The couple refused. We've seen no evidence that they've done anything to correct the behavior rather since then. In response, Uber says no family should have to suffer the loss of a child and our thoughts continue to be with the Normand and Parker family. While we respect the arbitration process, we believe the arbitrator was wrong in holding Uber legally responsible for the tragic events of that night. We have continued to strengthen our approach to safety over the years, including additional guidance to drivers about avoiding drop-offs in unsafe locations. Luna was also awarded $300,000 in her part of the decision. I feel incredibly grateful that this win will allow other people to seek justice. The hope is that it will force Uber to change their policies. I have not taken a single Uber or said, suddenly died.

10:36I would never take another Uber ever again. Carolyn Ken say they keep Emily's memory alive in several ways. One of the most significant is a new foundation in her name. It's really just cared. It's cared that people felt connected and loved and belonged, like really just belonged. So the foundation, I think that's fluid in developing, right? Because we want her legacy to have meaning and action. Heartbreaking story are thanks to Trevor. When we come back, Princess Diana's brother spilling the tea in his new book, what was going on behind the scenes with the royal family after Diana's death? The upcoming book by Princess Diana's brother, continuing to make headlines as more allegations

11:38are lobbed against King Charles. Here's ABC's Lama Hassan. A war of words erupting between Buckingham Palace and the late Princess Diana's brother, Earl Spencer. In a highly unusual move, the palace issuing a statement questioning Spencer's recollection of a fight he said he had with King Charles and the run up to Diana's funeral. In excerpts of his new book, Swan Song Diana, my sister, Spencer describes Charles's furious response to him pushing back against the palace's idea that William and Harry should walk behind their mother's coffin. He writes, His Charles continued his stream of anger without me interrupting, then he stopped. I assume the poor signaled an effort to bring himself under control, but then he unleashed down the phone what I've always taken to be his pent-up contempt for Diana and his horror that the world was so bold over by her death. Rest assured, he hissed, we'll forget her soon enough. The King spoke spursus swiftly responding. While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, his majesty is mindful that

12:42the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise even many years after such a loss. I think the palace's statement about Earl Spencer's book was probably an error because he's been drawn into a slaying match and all it's done is recreate the world of the walls his two 29 years after Diana's death and the princess who's been dead all those years is now back on the front pages. Another explosive excerpts released by the Daily Mail, Earl Spencer claiming Charles sounded, quote, giddyly elated like a lottery winner in a phone call to him immediately after Diana's death in 1997 in Paris, suspecting that his first reaction was to think how he could marry Camilla. Also according to the book on the night before the wedding, Charles told Diana he was happy to marry her, but was not actually in love with her. This is Prince Harry is seen today at a Veterans event in London. When reporters asked him about his uncle's new book, he ignored the questions.

13:51Our thanks to Lama. When we come back, we're one on one with Danielle Brooks now back on the big screen. The actress who broke out and oranges the new black, revealing why she nearly turned down that life-changing role. My character was supposed to be tacos. I'm like, this is my way into the industry like... Welcome back. actress Danielle Brooks burst onto the scene in oranges the new black and received Oscar and Tony Nas for the color purple in the role made famous by Oprah Winfrey. For her new film, though, Brooks is revealing aside she says she's never shown on screen before. Here's Nightline's Ashansing. Danielle Brooks is... Danielle Brooks is... dope. I love that. She's dope. I'm very proud of myself.

14:51At 36, actress Danielle Brooks is indeed pretty dope. She's already earned some of her industry's highest honors, nominated for an Oscar. Emmys, Tony and winning a Grammy. But she says the greatest award has been what her craft has given others. Oh, it connects me with people. That's what acting does for me. I think the arts is that reflection of the world that we live in or it should be. And that is the thing that drew me. Brooks, reflecting the world in powerful roles like Tasty in oranges the new black. Our fight is with the folks who hold our demands in their hands. And Sophia in the color purple. I love Apple. God knows I do. But I kill him day before I let him in and about it beat me. And her latest, a film she believes, will make a mark.

15:55This one of those movies that I feel like is that movie of the time. You know, we've had in the past beautiful films like Moonlight. They just have did something to change the course of cinema. And I feel like that's what this movie is definitely going to do. I read through all of those letters that you sent me. He was a whole different person. I don't mind stealing a scene in the best way. The scene stealing actress putting her jewelry art chops on full display once again. How does it came from the South fallen love with the stage and fallen love with the actor? New York City, baby. New York City. My dad took me to see my first Broadway show. And that show was the color purple. No way. Yes way. It was the color purple. And I was like, oh my god. It took my breath literally away. And it was because I saw people that look like me doing it in a professional way.

16:56That moment unveiled a world of opportunity. From Broadway to the screen, Brooks soon earned that breakout, oranges the new black roll. Did you know what was going to come next for you? Hell no. What came next? Twist of fate, Brooks brought back to the color purple on Broadway, this time starring in it as Sophia. And soon after, the superstar who originated Sophia, halt, asking Brooks to play her on the silver screen. How did that roll change the light? Insane. Insane in the membrane, my friend. If I felt like the men I got that call, I knew that I was about to be a household name. I knew it. But for it to be coming from Oprah Winfrey, oh man, like the little girl in me was just

17:57in awe. Brooks, earning that Oscar nom in 2023, after bringing Sophia back to the big screen. I want to thank you, Miss Sealey. For everything you've done for me. Brooks now showcasing her evolution in her latest film. If I go, will they miss me? In theaters now. The film is about a young boy who wants to connect to his father who's just been released from prison and he sees his father as a god. But his father doesn't see his self as a god. So he struggles with that. And so my character, Loseeta, does what moms do. And she is trying her best to protect, can keep this family together. But hard decisions have to be made. We're not perfect. Your daddy is a work in progress. I'm a work in progress.

18:58But we're going to figure this out. Okay? Forgive me. I'm afraid of you. You described it early on as, it may be not rocket science, but you all are saving lives. What did you mean by that? There is a lot of people hurting. So if we can allow a place for an hour and a half for someone to go and say, damn, let me look at myself for a second. Let me reflect, see how I can be better. You know, that is how I could ever ask for it. That's Nightline. You can watch all of our full episodes on Disney Plus and Hulu. We'll see you right back here tomorrow at the same time. Thanks for staying up with us. Good night America. Now you can listen to a podcast version of Nightline, available for you wherever you listen. When Fall comes back around, there's a sense of a reset.

19:59And new pieces from Lululemon's Fall Drop are an inspiration to push your goals and elevate your routines. As your calendar fills, easy to layer styles meet the demands of your day. And as you challenge yourself to try even more, versatile sets transition with you. The Lululemon Fall lineup brings new levels of comfort and confidence, whether you're starting something fresh or starting something over. Check out the latest arrivals in store and on Lululemon.com now.