Nationwide — Dajua Blanding, a Detroit rapper referred to as Dank Demoss, is suing a Lyft driver for refusing her a trip due to her measurement. The motive force, who arrived in a Mercedes Benz sedan, reportedly locked his doorways and tried to drive off when he noticed her.
Blanding, who had requested a trip to a Detroit Lions watch occasion, confronted the motive force whereas recording the encounter. “I can match on this automobile,” she will be heard saying, to which he responded, “Imagine me, you’ll be able to’t.”
The motive force informed her she was too large to slot in the backseat and that his tires couldn’t deal with her weight. He provided to refund the trip and instructed she guide a bigger car as a substitute.
“I’ve been in vehicles smaller than that,” she informed FOX 2 Detroit. “I simply need them to know that it damage my emotions.”
Blanding has since filed a lawsuit, arguing the motive force’s refusal violated Michigan legislation, which protects in opposition to weight-based discrimination. Her attorneys, Jonathan Marko and Zach Runyan, state that denying a trip based mostly on weight isn’t any completely different from discrimination based mostly on race or faith. They are saying Lyft drivers can refuse rides for safety causes however can’t discriminate in opposition to legally protected traits.
Lyft has been served with the lawsuit. Of their assertion, the corporate condemned all types of discrimination, saying, “We consider in a group the place everyone seems to be handled with equal respect and mutual kindness. Our group tips and phrases of service explicitly prohibit harassment or discrimination.”
In the meantime, some individuals who commented on Blanding’s Instagram posts have defended the motive force, claiming that Blanding was threatening his livelihood. One particular person wrote, “I hope the motive force additionally information a lawsuit, he’s the actual sufferer on this.”
“There’s a distinction from precise discrimination & frequent sense. I imply take heed to the person’s automobile…I personally don’t assume he wished to be offensive however actually needed to not permit the service along with her. I’m sorry she skilled this however that is NOT a lawsuit,” one other particular person stated.
