Detroit Rapper Sues Lyft For Weight Discrimination

A self-described “plus-size rapper” from Detroit has filed a lawsuit against ride-share service Lyft after a driver refused to let her into his car and cancelled her ride.

The artist, who performs under the moniker Dank Demoss, believes she was illegally discriminated against due to her weight, as footage shared by the rapper ahead of the suit shows her attempting to enter the vehicle, but being given multiple reasons by the driver as to why she couldn’t. The driver cited the size of his vehicle and the wear on his car’s tires as reasons he had to refuse the ride, apologizing for the inconvenience and advising Demoss to order a larger vehicle next time around.

Demoss, born Dajua Blanding, spoke to FOX 2 Detroit about the incident, telling reporter Jessica Dupnack that she’s ridden in cars “smaller than” the one in question.

“I just want them to know, like, it really hurt my feelings,” Demoss told Dupnack, adding that she took particular exception to the driver bringing up his tires. Her attorneys, Jon Marko and Zach Runyan, argue that weight is a “protected characteristic in Michigan, by law.”

“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 argues.

Lyft has since released a statement regarding the incident.

“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.”

If you’re interested in getting to know Demoss as an artist, check out a clip of her in action below and more on her Instagram.