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Dajua Blanding, a 36-year-old plus-size rapper known as Dank Demoss, has filed a lawsuit against Lyft, alleging discrimination after a driver refused to pick her up. The incident occurred earlier this month and was captured on video, showing the driver expressing concern that Blanding’s weight might damage his car.
The video, shared by Blanding on Instagram, sparked widespread debate. In the footage, Blanding can be heard asserting, “I can fit in this car,” to which the driver responds, “Believe me, you can’t.” The driver also offered to refund her ride to avoid any charges but maintained his stance.
Blanding, who has publicly shared her weight loss journey—revealing she weighed over 500 pounds and had lost 40 pounds as of December—said the experience left her humiliated. “It hurt my feelings,” she told Fox 2. “I’ve been in cars smaller than that.”
Her lawsuit claims emotional distress and discrimination, emphasizing that weight is a protected characteristic under Michigan law. Her attorney, Jonathan Marko, stated, “Refusing someone transportation based on their weight is no different than doing so because of their race or religion. It’s not only illegal but also dangerous.”
According to the lawsuit, the driver arrived in a Mercedes-Benz sedan but locked the doors and attempted to drive away after seeing Blanding. She confronted him, and he reportedly told her his car’s tires couldn’t support her weight and that she wouldn’t fit in the back seat.
Online reactions have been mixed. Some commenters defended the driver, suggesting he was protecting his vehicle and adhering to safety regulations. “It’s against the law to overload a car,” one user wrote. Others criticized Blanding for not following the driver’s recommendation to order a larger vehicle, such as Lyft XL.
However, many supported Blanding, with her attorney Zach Runyan warning of the broader implications of such refusals. “Imagine if she were stranded and unable to find shelter,” Runyan said. “This could have had serious consequences.”
In response, Lyft issued a statement condemning discrimination. “We believe in a community where everyone is treated with respect and kindness,” the company said. “Our guidelines explicitly prohibit harassment or discrimination of any kind.”
Despite the backlash, Blanding has stood by her claims, posting a video of herself on Instagram in defiance. “Me tryna get Lyft to not discriminate against my weight and let me in the car!” she captioned the post.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk
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