A Detroit rapper, Dajua Blanding, known by her stage name Dank Demoss, has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Lyft after a driver refused her service, claiming her size made it impossible for her to fit into the vehicle.
The incident occurred earlier this month when Blanding requested a ride to a Detroit Lions watch party. Upon arrival, the driver reportedly told her she would not fit in his sedan, stating, “Believe me, you can’t.”
He also mentioned that his tires could not handle her weight and suggested ordering an Uber XL instead. Blanding, who recorded the interaction, 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.”
Her attorneys, Jonathan Marko and Zach Runyan, have filed a lawsuit against Lyft for discrimination. Marko noted that weight is a protected characteristic under Michigan law, comparing the denial to discrimination based on race or religion. “I knew that it was illegal, and I knew that it was wrong,” Marko said.
Lyft responded to the allegations in a statement, saying, “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 hara§§ment or d+scrimination.”
While Lyft drivers can decline passengers they perceive as a security thr+at, Marko emphasized that denying service based on protected characteristics, such as weight, is illegal in Michigan.
The rideshare company has been served with the lawsuit, and the case is expected to bring further scrutiny to the treatment of passengers by rideshare drivers under anti-discrimination laws.