On January the 18th, 2025 Dajua Blanding, the Detroit rapper known as Dank Demoss was about to leave a party at her cousin’s home and requested a Lyft ride. A Mercedes Benz sedan rolled up and surprisingly, as she was leaving, the driver locked the doors. She questioned the driver and was hit with a rather shocking response.
The Lyft driver suggested that she was ‘too big’ to fit in the back seat and that the rapper could potentially pop the wheels of his ride. The driver even went as far as to suggest she ordered a larger vehicle instead. Blanding cleverly captured the moment on camera and took to social media.
Legal Action Initiated Against Lyft
Blanding shortly thereafter filed a lawsuit against Lyft, including the unnamed driver at Michigan’s Circuit Court for Wayne County on January 27, 2025. In her lawsuit, she alleged that the driver’s discriminatory behavior against her weight violated the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. This law specifically prohibits weight-based discrimination. The rapper is now seeking compensation against Lyft and their appointed driver, more specifically, for stress, mental anguish, and attorney fees, among other damages.
Attorney’s Statement
John Marke, Blanding’s appointed attorney highlighted the legal implications of the driver’s actions. He stated “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.”
“Refusing someone transportation based on their weight is not only illegal but dangerous.” attorney Zach Runyan added. “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.”
Lyft’s Response
Lyft was quick to fire back, stating “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.”
Public Reaction and Social Media Impact
Blanding’s video however had already made traction on TikTok, garnering hundreds of thousands of views. This prompted a widespread debate on discrimination and inclusivity in the general rideshare industry. Viewers condemned the incident and took Blanding’s side, calling for Lyft and other rideshare companies to take greater accountability for their staff’s actions.
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Broader Implications
The ongoing debate surrounding discrimination in the rideshare industry has once again, brought to light a bigger issue. Her poor treatment by the driver left people questioning how others would be treated based on their physical characteristics. Hopefully, the outcome of this particular lawsuit would set a precedent for Lyft and other competing companies when it comes to their future policies and what they do as far as training goes for onboarding new staff.
Similar Incidents in the Rideshare Industry
This is not the first time a rideshare company has come under fire. In 2023, a NY woman sued Uber when the driver refused her guide dog in their vehicle. This is all despite their policy stating that service animals were allowed. The lawsuit alleged that not only did the company violate her rights as a customer, but also discriminated against her, a clear violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Soon thereafter, she received an apology letter from Uber.
Another Discriminatory Act
In Los Angeles, a complaint was filed against a rideshare driver in 2024 when a man claimed her was denied service due to his wheelchair. The driver suggested that they had insufficient space for the wheelchair. However, the passenger argued that the driver was ignorant and prejudiced against him. This incident drew a strong following where as much as companies promote inclusivity, they don’t seem to stick to their promises.
Lyft Along With Other Rideshares Need to up Their Game
It is important to take note that Blanding’s case against Lyft should be a stark reminder that discrimination needs to be taken by the horns. Hopefully, as the case progresses, rideshare companies will take a step back and review their policies to accommodate everyone equally. A movement we all need.
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