Michigan rapper Dajua Blanding, known as Dank Demoss, is suing Lyft after a driver refused to let her into his car, claiming she was too heavy. The incident, caught on video and shared to her Instagram, shows Blanding trying to explain she would fit in the car, while the driver disagreed, saying, “Trust me, you can’t,” before canceling the ride.
“I’ve been in smaller cars than that,” Blanding said. “It hurt my feelings.”
She says the driver pulled up in a Mercedes-Benz, locked the doors when he saw her, and claimed she might damage his tires. The clip sparked debate online—many defended the driver, suggesting she should have booked a larger vehicle like a Lyft XL. Others called it blatant discrimination.
Blanding, who has spoken publicly about her weight—over 500 pounds at one point—says it’s not just about one driver. “Lyft, do you treat plus-sized people like we don’t belong?” she asked on Instagram.
Her lawyers argue the driver’s refusal violated Michigan’s civil rights law, which protects against discrimination based on weight. “This is like denying someone a ride because of their race or religion,” said attorney Jonathan Marko.
Lyft responded with a statement condemning discrimination and affirming that all riders should be treated with respect. As the lawsuit moves forward, it raises tough questions about the line between driver safety and rider rights in the gig economy.