Rejection, no matter the reason, cuts deep. The sting of being turned away, dismissed, or denied access is something most people have felt at some point. Detroit rapper Dank Demoss knows that feeling all too well. What happened to her wasn’t just rejection—it was discrimination, and now, she’s fighting back.
Demoss, whose legal name is Dajua Blanding, is taking on ride-share giant Lyft after a driver allegedly refused to let her into his car because of her weight, as she weighs nearly 500 pounds. The rapper shared video footage of the interaction on Instagram on January 19, and what it captured was as blatant as it was painful to watch.
“I’m sorry. I got no space. My car is small,” the driver tells her.
“I can fit in this car,” Demoss, 29, responds.
“Believe me you can’t. … So I’m sorry. I’m gonna cancel [the ride]; you’re not gonna be charged,” the driver says.
She pushes back, questioning whether he is outright denying her service because of her size.
“So you’re telling me I can’t get in the Lyft because I can’t fit in your car? … So are you really telling me I’m too big to get in your car so I’ve got to order another Lyft?”
His response is clear: “Yeah, you need to order a bigger car.”
At one point, the driver even claims that his tires are an issue. None of it adds up, and none of it erases what was said before—she was too big to ride.
Shortly after, Demoss took her fight from social media to the courtroom. She and her legal team announced a lawsuit against Lyft and the unidentified driver, referred to in court documents as John Doe, for violating Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The law is clear: discrimination based on religion, race, color, age, sex, height, weight, and familial status is illegal.
According to the complaint, Demoss ordered a Lyft on January 18 to travel from her home in Detroit to a football watch party at her cousin’s house. She paid for her ride and waited. When the driver arrived in a Mercedes-Benz sedan, things went wrong before she even had the chance to get inside. The lawsuit alleges that as she attempted to enter the vehicle, the driver locked the doors and tried to pull off. When he did finally speak to her, the words he used were loaded.
The complaint states that he explicitly told her she was “too big” to fit in the backseat and that “his tires were not capable of supporting Plaintiff’s weight.” It didn’t stop there. After he refused to let her in the car, he drove away, leaving Demoss without transportation. She never made it to her cousin’s gathering. She was left standing there, humiliated and without options. The lawsuit argues that beyond being an act of discrimination, the driver’s actions caused emotional and mental harm. The complaint lists stress, humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional damage as direct consequences of what happened that night.
Contrarily, anyone can deny someone access to their personal vehicle without explanation. It is their private property, and they hold the right to decide who rides with them. However, once a person operates under the policy of a company like Lyft, the rules change. Policies designed to protect against discrimination become relevant, and the question remains: What is the right way to handle a situation like this? Was this a necessary safety decision, or was this blatant discrimination?
The message was clear: someone decided she didn’t belong. Lyft, a company that millions rely on for safe transportation, is now facing the reality that one of its drivers—someone operating under its banner—left a paying customer stranded because of their size. If four women weighing 125 pounds each tried to get into the car, would they have been turned away? The combined weight is the same as a single 500-pound passenger.
“Defendant Lyft, through its agents, representatives, and employees, unlawfully discriminated against Plaintiff based on her weight, treated her differently from similarly situated individuals based on weight, and allowed Plaintiff to be subjected to unlawful harassment based on her weight,” the complaint reads.
The lawsuit is demanding damages, including attorney fees, costs, and exemplary damages. Her attorney, Zach Runyan, made it clear that this case shouldn’t be boiled down to one woman’s experience. “Refusing someone transportation based on their weight is not only illegal, but dangerous,” Runyan said. “Imagine the consequences if Ms. Blanding were unable to seek shelter after the driver left her stranded. This could have ended even worse than it did.”
“We unequivocally condemn all forms of discrimination,” a Lyft spokesperson said. “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 company also pointed out that its drivers are independent contractors, making it clear they are not direct employees. That distinction may matter legally, but it does nothing to change what Demoss experienced.
Demoss’ case forces us to ask bigger questions. How often does discrimination like this go unchecked? How many people have been left stranded because of a driver’s bias? How many more will be denied access before real change happens?
Natasha Lee, founder of Being That Girl, an organization that inspires confidence, authenticity, and self-love in women regardless of societal expectations, weighed in on the incident.
“She’s absolutely talented, gorgeous to say the least, and is transparently and publicly working on her health. Regardless of a person’s physical appearance, no one should experience discrimination. I admire that she wears crop tops, dances, and laughs out loud. I love that she has the confidence to love herself.”
Lee further emphasized the importance of this case, saying, “I believe that the discrimination lawsuit opens the doors to having positive dialogue on obesity, self-love, and living unapologetically. It also sheds light on the backlash that often comes with embracing oneself fully.”
She acknowledged the broader societal implications. “Regarding the incident, it’s disheartening that discrimination continues to exist based on physical appearance. She is allowed to sue if she feels discriminated against; no one has to agree with her personal decision. Dank’s confidence and authenticity are a powerful reminder that beauty and worth are not defined by size. Her boldness in being herself is incredibly inspiring, and her journey is one that many women can relate to.”
To other women who may face similar situations, Lee shared a message of empowerment: “Embrace who you are, love yourself fiercely, and don’t let anyone dim your light. Confidence isn’t about fitting into a mold; it’s about breaking barriers and redefining beauty on your own terms.”
For now, Demoss is standing up not just for herself but for anyone who has ever been told they don’t belong. This fight is about dignity. This fight is about ensuring no one else has to feel the way she felt that night.