Dank Demoss selfie posted on her instagram, Photo Credit: dankdemoss/Instagram
“Trust me, you can’t,” the driver replied.
The driver eventually canceled the ride, assuring Blanding that she would not incur any charges. Nevertheless, she has filed a lawsuit against the rideshare service, claiming that the experience left her feeling humiliated and discriminated against.
“I have been in vehicles smaller than that one,” she stated in an interview. “I just want them to understand that it hurt my feelings.”
Following her video post on Instagram, a wave of reactions emerged, with many supporting the driver. Some recommended that she should have chosen a larger vehicle, like a Lyft XL, which is designed to provide more space.
Dank Demoss selfie posted on her instagram, Photo Credit: dankdemoss/Instagram
“It is illegal to overload a vehicle,” one commenter noted. “The driver was courteous, explained his rationale, and even apologized… try to view the situation from another angle.”
In spite of the criticism, Blanding remained resolute. In the caption of her now-famous post, she accused Lyft of mistreating riders who are plus-sized.
“AM I WRONG?” she questioned. “Lyft, what is your response to this driver who discriminated against me? I feel as though you treat larger individuals poorly. Like we do not belong here.”
Her lawsuit claims that the driver arrived in a Mercedes-Benz sedan but locked his doors and attempted to leave upon noticing her. When confronted, she alleges he informed her that she was too large to fit in the backseat and even suggested that her weight might damage his tires.
“What is my connection to your tires?” Blanding is heard questioning in the video.
Her legal representatives, Jonathan Marko and Zach Runyan, contend that the driver’s refusal to offer service contravened Michigan law, which designates weight as a protected characteristic.
“I was aware that it was unlawful, and I recognized that it was incorrect,” Marko informed Fox 2, likening the scenario to refusing someone a ride based on their race or religion.
Runyan stressed: “Refusing someone transportation due to their weight is not only unlawful but also perilous. Consider if Ms. Blanding had been abandoned in hazardous conditions—this situation could have escalated far worse than it did.”
While some detractors claimed that the lawsuit unjustly targets a driver merely attempting to safeguard his vehicle, Blanding has remained resolute. Days after releasing the initial footage, she shared another Instagram video of herself in yoga shorts and a jacket, stating:
“Me trying to get Lyft to stop discriminating against my weight and allow me in the car! Would you permit me in?? Anyway, meet me at the Sexxy Red afterparty.”
Blanding has previously discussed her weight, disclosing in December that she weighed over 500 pounds but had recently shed more than 40.
Side of a car and a driver that has been blurred, Photo Credit: FOX 5 Atlanta/Youtube
Lyft responded to the controversy in a statement, asserting that the company “unequivocally condemns all forms of discrimination.”
“We advocate for a community where everyone is treated with equal respect and mutual kindness. Our community guidelines and terms of service explicitly forbid harassment or discrimination,” the statement indicated.
As the lawsuit progresses, the case prompts broader inquiries regarding passenger rights, driver discretion, and the delicate balance between personal safety concerns and discrimination within the gig economy.
