A discrimination lawsuit filed against Lyft in Detroit has thrust the ride-sharing giant into the spotlight, raising questions about accessibility and equal treatment in the gig economy. The lawsuit stems from an incident involving content creator and rapper Dajua Blanding, known professionally as Dank Demoss, who alleges she was denied service based on her size.
The incident
The confrontation, which occurred in mid-January, was captured on video and has since garnered over 340,000 views on TikTok. According to the footage, a Lyft driver, identified as Ibrahim, arrived in a Mercedes-Benz sedan but refused service, claiming his vehicle couldn’t accommodate Blanding.
“I can fit in this car,” Blanding can be heard saying in the viral video, to which the driver responded, “Believe me, you can’t.” The driver cited concerns about tire capacity and lack of space in the backseat, suggesting Blanding should request an XL vehicle instead.
Blanding, who describes herself as a “PAID PHAT QUEEN” on Instagram and identifies as a BBW (Big Beautiful Woman), has been transparent about her weight, recently disclosing that she weighs 489 pounds. Speaking to FOX2 following the lawsuit filing, she expressed her emotional response to the situation: “I’ve been in cars smaller than that. I just want them to know that it hurt my feelings.”
Lyft’s response
When approached for comment, Lyft declined to address the specific incident due to ongoing litigation. However, a company spokesperson emphasized their stance on discrimination:
“Lyft unequivocally condemns all forms of discrimination—we believe in a community where everyone is treated with equal respect and mutual kindness,” adding that their “community guidelines and terms of service explicitly prohibit harassment or discrimination.”
