What should have been a routine ride turned into a legal battle for rapper Dank Demoss after a Lyft driver refused to let her into his car, citing her size as the reason. The incident, caught on camera, has since gone viral—and now, she’s suing.
In the video, the driver repeatedly tells Blanding she won’t fit in his vehicle, despite her protests. After a brief argument, he cancels the ride, leaving her stranded. Though he promised no charges, Blanding says the encounter was deeply upsetting. “I’ve taken plenty of rides in sedans before,” she said. “This felt personal.”
Social media reactions have been split. Some argue the driver was within his rights to protect his car, while others accuse him of fat-shaming. Blanding, who has been open about her weight loss journey, says the experience was a painful reminder of the discrimination plus-sized people face daily.
Her lawsuit hinges on Michigan’s legal protections against weight-based discrimination. “You can’t refuse service based on someone’s body,” her lawyer argued.
As the case unfolds, it raises important questions about where to draw the line between driver discretion and passenger rights in the ride-share industry.
