A 554-pound self-described BBW — that is, “big beautiful woman” — rapper filed a lawsuit against Lyft this month after she said a Detroit driver “hurt my feelings” by denying her a ride to a Detroit Lions watch party.
Dajua Blanding, better known as Dank Demoss, recorded the Jan. 18 incident and posted it to TikTok and Instagram before hiring attorneys at Marko Law, PLLC to sue the rideshare company for discrimination.
“I can fit in this car,” Blanding, 36, told the driver of the Mercedes-Benz sedan.
Go Ad-Free, Get Content, Go Premium Today - $1 Trial
“Believe me, you can’t,” the driver responded, apologizing because his low-profile tires couldn’t handle her weight, which she said in a social media post last year topped 554 pounds.
The driver said he’d refund the ride so Blanding could order an Uber XL, a larger vehicle, WJBK reports.
“I’ve been in cars smaller than that,” Blanding told the news site. “I just want them to know it hurt my feelings.”
Attorney Jon Marko told the Detroit Metro Times in a statement that he filed the lawsuit seeking compensation for stress, mental anguish, attorneys fees and damages over alleged violations of Michigan’s Elliott-Larson Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on “religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status.”
Go Ad-Free, Get Content, Go Premium Today - $1 Trial
Democrats who controlled the Michigan legislature in 2023 amended the law to also include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
“Under the law, refusing someone transportation due to their weight is no different than refusing someone transportation based on their race or religion,” Marko said in a statement. “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.”
Others who weighed in on Blanding’s social media posts had a different perspective.
MORE NEWS: Gretchen Whitmer’s $5.65 million Symphony Economic Recovery Program ‘could’ve filled many potholes’
“There’s a difference from actual discrimination and common sense,” one user posted. “I personally don’t think he wanted to be offensive but literally had to not allow the service with her. I’m sorry she experienced this but this is NOT a lawsuit.”
“The driver said nothing wrong and he was respectful the entire time,” another wrote. “He never once called her out of her name, called her fat, or addressed her issue negatively. He simply gave her a suggestion that was plausible. He told the truth.”
“It’s against the law to overload a car,” yet another wrote. “The driver was very polite, he explained his valid reasons, and even apologized… try seeing things from another’s perspective.”
Lyft, which has been served with the lawsuit, issued a statement to WJBK.
“Lyft unequivocally condemns all forms of discrimination – we believe in a community where everyone is treated with equal respect and mutual kindness,” it read. “Our community guidelines and terms of service explicitly prohibit harassment or discrimination.”