
A plus-sized rapper is suing Lyft after a driver allegedly refused her service due to her size, sparking a debate on discrimination in ride-sharing services.
At a Glance
- Rapper Dank Demoss, weighing 489 lbs., is suing Lyft for alleged weight-based discrimination
- The incident occurred in Detroit when a Lyft driver refused service, citing vehicle space concerns
- Demoss shared the incident on social media, where it went viral
- Lyft has condemned discrimination, emphasizing their community guidelines
- The case raises questions about weight discrimination and ride-sharing equity
Alleged Incident of Discrimination
Dank Demoss, a rapper weighing nearly 489 pounds, has filed a lawsuit against Lyft following an alleged incident of weight-based service denial in Detroit. The driver, identified as Ibrahim, reportedly locked his doors and refused service to Demoss, citing concerns about space and tire capacity in his Mercedes-Benz sedan.
The confrontation between Demoss and the driver escalated when she insisted she could fit in the vehicle. According to reports, the exchange went as follows:
“I can fit in this car,” Dank Demoss said.
“Believe me, you can’t,” Ibrahim replied.
She woulda put buddy car on all flats and I think in their policy, Lyft drivers are allowed to deny you service. She won’t win this lawsuit https://t.co/LCUCutciMl
— Darren ☀️ (@DarrenSTTB_) January 28, 2025
Legal Action and Public Response
Following the incident, Demoss, also known as Dajua Blanding, shared her experience on social media, where it quickly went viral, amassing over 340,000 views on TikTok. The rapper then decided to take legal action against Lyft, citing emotional distress and humiliation.
“I just want them to know, like, it really hurt my feelings,” Demoss said.
Demoss’s attorneys, Jonathan Marko and Zach Runyan, are arguing that weight is a protected characteristic under Michigan law. They’ve drawn comparisons between this incident and discrimination based on race or religion.
“It would be no different than a driver pulling up and saying, ‘I don’t want to have Black people in my car, I don’t want to have Christians in my car, or Muslims’, it’s the same. Under the law, it’s the same,” Marko stated.
Lyft’s Response and Policy
In response to the lawsuit, Lyft has issued a statement condemning discrimination and emphasizing their community guidelines. A Lyft spokesperson said:
“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 ride-sharing company’s response highlights the broader implications this case may have on industry practices and policies regarding discrimination based on physical characteristics.