A Michigan-based rapper is suing Lyft after claiming a driver refused to pick her up, allegedly because he believed she was too heavy for his car.
Dajua Blanding, 36, who performs under the stage name Dank Demoss, filmed the incident earlier this month and shared the footage on social media. In the video, she can be seen trying to reason with the driver, insisting she could fit in his vehicle.
“I can fit in this car,” Blanding said in the clip.
“Believe me, you can’t,” the driver responded before canceling the ride and assuring her she wouldn’t be charged.
The moment sparked outrage online after Blanding posted the video to Instagram, where reactions were divided. Some viewers sympathized with her and called the driver’s actions discriminatory. Others argued he was within his rights, suggesting she should have requested a larger vehicle like a Lyft XL.
“What do I have to do with your tires?” she asked during the exchange.
Her attorneys, Jonathan Marko and Zach Runyan, argue the driver’s behavior violated Michigan law, which protects against discrimination based on weight.
“I knew it was illegal, and I knew it was wrong,” Marko said in an interview. “This is no different from denying someone service based on their race or religion.”
Runyan added, “Refusing someone a ride because of their weight is not only discriminatory—it’s potentially dangerous. What if she’d been stranded somewhere unsafe?”
“What do I have to do with your tires?” she asked during the exchange.
Her attorneys, Jonathan Marko and Zach Runyan, argue the driver’s behavior violated Michigan law, which protects against discrimination based on weight.
“I knew it was illegal, and I knew it was wrong,” Marko said in an interview. “This is no different from denying someone service based on their race or religion.”
Runyan added, “Refusing someone a ride because of their weight is not only discriminatory—it’s potentially dangerous. What if she’d been stranded somewhere unsafe?”
Despite some backlash, Blanding has stood her ground. Days after the video went viral, she posted another clip of herself in yoga shorts and a jacket, captioned: “Me tryna get Lyft to not discriminate against my weight and let me in the car! Would you let me in?? Anyways, meet me at the Sexxy Red afterparty.”
She has also been candid about her weight, revealing in December that she weighed over 500 pounds and had recently lost more than 40.
In response to the growing controversy, Lyft released a statement condemning discrimination and reaffirming its values. “We believe in a community built on mutual respect. Discrimination of any kind is strictly prohibited under our guidelines,” the company said.
As the lawsuit proceeds, it highlights broader debates around body size, rider rights, and where the line lies between personal discretion and prejudice in the gig economy.
