Lyft Driver Body-Shames Detroit Rapper—Now She’s Taking Him to COURT!
A rapper from Detroit is suing Lyft because she says one of their drivers refused to give her a ride because of her size.
Dajua Blanding, who goes by the stage name Dank Demoss, filed a lawsuit against Lyft and the driver—identified as John Doe—in Michigan’s Circuit Court for Wayne County on Monday, January 27.
According to court documents seen by PEOPLE, Blanding says that on January 18, she ordered a Lyft to go to her cousin’s house to watch a football game.
About 10 to 15 minutes later, the driver arrived at her home, but when she walked up to his car, he allegedly refused to let her in.
The lawsuit claims that the driver locked his doors as she approached and tried to drive away.
“As Plaintiff walked towards the vehicle, Defendant John Doe locked the doors to his vehicle and attempted to drive away,” the lawsuit states, adding that Blanding was “shocked.”
According to FOX 2, Blanding recorded part of the interaction on video. In the clip, she can be heard saying: “I can fit in this car.”
The driver then replies: “Believe me, you can’t.”
Blanding says she asked him why he was trying to leave, and that’s when the driver allegedly told her she was “too big” to ride in his car and that he was canceling the trip.
The lawsuit says the driver told Blanding she was “too big to fit in the back seat” and that his “tires were not capable of supporting Plaintiff’s weight.”
Blanding, however, argued that there was plenty of space and that she “did not require a bigger car.”
But the driver allegedly insisted he had dealt with this “problem” before and claimed that “overweight individuals must order Lyft XLs”—a more expensive option meant for larger groups, according to the company’s website.
After canceling the ride, the driver left, leaving Blanding stranded and unable to get to her cousin’s party.
“I’ve been in cars smaller than that,” Blanding told FOX 2. “I just want them to know that it hurt my feelings.”
The lawsuit claims that Lyft and the driver created a hostile environment and treated Blanding unfairly.
Blanding’s lawyer, John Marko, criticized what happened, telling PEOPLE: “Under the law, 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.”
Another attorney, Zach Runyan, also spoke out, saying this could have been a dangerous situation.
“Refusing someone transportation based on their weight is not only illegal but dangerous. Imagine if Ms. Blanding had no safe place to go after being left stranded. This could have ended even worse than it did,” Runyan said.
Blanding is suing for damages, saying the experience caused her stress, humiliation, embarrassment, mental distress, and fear. She is also asking for compensation for legal fees and court costs.
A Lyft spokesperson released a statement to PEOPLE, saying the company does not tolerate discrimination.
“Lyft strongly opposes all forms of discrimination—we believe in a community where everyone is treated with respect and kindness.
“Our community guidelines and terms of service clearly prohibit harassment or discrimination.”
