Morbidly Obese Rapper Sues Lyft After Being Denied Service Due To Her Size

Detroit-based rap performer Dank Demoss is suing Lyft over a driver refusing her service because of her weight.

A video of an interaction between the woman, whose real name is Dajua Blanding, went viral on social media. Blanding and the Lyft driver are heard arguing as he explains that he won’t be able to accommodate her in his vehicle.

“I can fit in this car,” Blanding can be heard saying, to which the driver responded, “Believe me, you can’t.”

The Lyft driver apologized and assured Blanding she would not be charged for the service. He also said she could try ordering a larger sized vehicle such as an Uber XL.

He denied her uber request because she was too big pic.twitter.com/S7qhm7mU0N

— Zaza Man (@Zazamyodor) January 25, 2025

“I’ve been in cars smaller than that,” the rapper told the local Detroit affiliate FOX 2. “I just want them to know that it hurt my feelings.”

Since then, Blanding took to Instagram to announce that she was suing Lyft for discrimination. “If I [don’t] stand for something, I’ll fall for anything,” she wrote in the post. “Thank you to my lawyers, Marco and Zach Runyan! Fighting for my community my people and making a change in the world, not just for me, but for everyone. Thank you to my team and all the support I’m getting.”

Since the video went viral, Lyft has also released a statement on the interaction.

“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,” the rideshare company said, per Fox 2.

Social media reactions were mixed, with many users siding with the Lyft driver and saying he had the right to refuse service if it was for a valid safety concern. Some users also noted that Blanding would likely be required to purchase more than one seat on an airplane, which they used as a comparable situation.

“The Uber driver has the right to deny service if he or she feels there is a valid concern for their safety or the safety of the rider(s). I think the driver made the correct decision here,” one person wrote in response to the video.

A second commenter said, “I actually had 3 overweight men bottom out and ruin my shocks and break the frame of my car when I was an uber driver way back. This is reasonable.”

“I understand both sides. That’s his personal vehicle and if anything was to happen, Lyft isn’t buying him a new car. Also, denying her service is embarrassing and unprofessional, but unfortunately I do understand why,” a third person said.

The Instagram comments showed a similar response. One popular reaction to Blanding’s announcement that she was suing Lyft said, “So friend you mad because someone wasn’t comfortable with you getting in their car? I’m big too and I know some cars I have no business in. That car was already low to the floor.”

The commenter continued, “He also was very respectful and didn’t try to humiliate you! All you had to do was let him cancel and send you another one… We have bigger issues in our community like high blood pressure and diabetes.”