A plus-sized rapper is suing a ride share company after she was refused a lift by one of its drivers who insisted “she was too big to fit in the back seat.”
Dajua Blanding, known by her stage name Dank Demoss, is taking legal action against Lyft and an unidentified driver, alleging that she was denied a ride due to her weight.
The plus-sized rapper claims that on January 18, she ordered a Lyft to get from her home to her cousin’s place for a football game watch party.
The driver – known only as John Doe – arrived at Blanding’s Detroit-area home about 10 to 15 minutes later. But when she approached the vehicle expecting to get in, things didn’t go as planned.
In a clip shared by the influencer on TikTok, the woman is heard arguing with the driver, who politely explains his car can’t handle her weight.
“What makes you think I can’t fit in this car?” she asks the operator of the Honda Civic. After the two share some more (inaudible) words, the driver then says, “To be more specific with you, I’ve got very tired tires.”
When Blanding debates, “What I got to do with your tires?” the driver then points to the back of his seat and says, “You have no space…I have no space in the back.”
Eventually, the driver canceled the ride and left, leaving Blanding unable to attend her cousin’s watch party. Feeling humiliated and wronged, she decided to take legal action.
‘Too big to fit’
On January 27 Blanding filed a lawsuit against Lyft and the driver, claiming her civil rights were violated.
“Specifically, as Plaintiff walked towards the vehicle, Defendant John Doe locked the doors to his vehicle and attempted to drive away,” the lawsuit alleges, according to People.
The filing claims that Doe refused her a drive because “she was too big to fit in the back seat” and “his tires were not capable of supporting Plaintiff’s weight.”
Doe also recommended Blanding request a Lyft XL, larger vehicles that can fit up to six passengers, according to the company’s website.
Part of this conversation can be heard in the TikTok clip: “I don’t never have to order an Uber [Lyft] XL,” Blanding insisted, claiming that “she did not require a bigger car.”
‘Discrimination’
Speaking with People, her attorney John Marko explains that “refusing someone transportation due to their weight is no different than refusing someone transportation based on their race or religion. Discrimination of any kind should never be tolerated in our society.”
Attorney Zach Runyan adds, “Refusing someone transportation based on their weight is not only illegal, but dangerous.”
“Imagine the consequences if Ms. Blanding were unable to seek shelter after the driver left her stranded. This could have ended even worse than it did,” Runyan said of the woman, who was safely standing outside her home when she was refused the ride.
Car was too small
Online users had a lot to say about the incident, the majority suggesting that a passenger’s size might compromise safety or vehicle functionality.
“That car was obviously too small. That driver had every right to refuse due to safety alone. Seatbelt wouldn’t fit properly, and the extra weight would have destroyed his transmission, tires, shocks, and dislodged the front passenger seat,” writes one user on Blanding’s Facebook post where she shares images with her team of lawyers. “It’s a shame you trying to win the ghetto lottery. The lawyers are slime to even take this case.”
A second Facebooker shares, “I side with the driver on this one. I’m against discrimination 100%, but this wasn’t discrimination. Cars can only safely hold a certain amount [of] weight.”
“She’s suing a man who kindly declined the ride. He wasn’t rude or disrespectful, and according to Lyft he has the right to decline a ride lol. So, taking a man’s livelihood because he said ‘no thank you,’ is diabolical,” shares a third netizen.
A fourth user rages that “the whole lawsuit is a farce.” “You knew damn well you couldn’t fit in his car when he pulled up. At the end of the day, it’s his car and his judgement call…I hope the man sues you,” the person shares.
Another cyber fan, who refers to herself as a big, beautiful woman (BBW), offers her thoughts: “Lyft drivers do have the right to cancel a ride but being honest she knew she needed to order an XL ride. I’m a BBW and when I order a Lyft I get an XL ride cause I get it to be comfortable.”
Emotional distress
According to People, Blanding is seeking compensation for a range of damages, including stress, humiliation, embarrassment, outrage, and mental anguish. She also claims the incident caused fear and emotional distress, impacting both her well-being and daily life. In addition to emotional and economic damages, she is demanding legal fees and court costs to be covered as part of her lawsuit.
A statement shared by Lyft reads: “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.”
As legal proceedings continue, all eyes will be on this case to see whether it reshapes the way rideshare companies operate.
What are your thoughts on the driver denying Blanding a ride? Please let us know what you think and then share this story so we can hear from others!
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