Detroit rapper Dajua Blanding, known by her stage name Dank Demoss, has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the U.S.-based ride-hailing company Lyft after a driver allegedly refused her service, claiming her size made it impossible for her to fit into the vehicle.
The incident took place in Detroit, Michigan, earlier this month when Blanding requested a ride to a Detroit Lions watch party. Upon arrival, the driver allegedly told her she wouldn’t fit in his sedan, stating, “Believe me, you can’t,” and suggested ordering an Uber XL instead. He also claimed his tires couldn’t handle her weight.
Blanding, an American rapper, recorded the interaction and insists she could have fit comfortably in the car.
“I’ve been in cars smaller than that,” Blanding told FOX 2. “I just want them to know that it hurt my feelings.”
Blanding’s attorneys, Jonathan Marko and Zach Runyan, have filed the lawsuit against Lyft, citing discrimination under Michigan law, which protects against weight discrimination, just as it does for race or religion. “I knew that it was illegal, and I knew that it was wrong,” Marko said.
Lyft, which operates primarily in the United States, responded to the allegations in a statement, condemning all forms of discrimination. “Lyft unequivocally condemns all forms of discrimination—we believe in a community where everyone is treated with equal respect and mutual kindness. Our community guidelines and terms of service explicitly prohibit harassment or discrimination.”
Although Lyft drivers are allowed to decline passengers they perceive as a security threat, Marko emphasized that denying service based on a protected characteristic, such as weight, is illegal in Michigan.
The lawsuit is expected to bring greater attention to the treatment of passengers by rideshare drivers and the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws.
