In a class action suit against ride sharing giant Lyft, Dajua Blanding, whose stage name is Dank Demoss, claims that the driver she attempted to take a ride with denied her because she was ‘too big to fit in the back seat.’ Blanding was heading to a watch party when the incident happened — an incident as the company himself has suggested that raises some important questions about the normalization of weight discrimination, as accessible parking, and the responsibilities of companies like Lyft.
Blanding said she routinely hired a standard Lyft ride to get to a social gathering and was rejected by the driver, who allegedly said he was not able to make the trip due to ‘very tired tires’ and no room in the car. Blanding insisted she was able to fit in the car, but the driver refused to go with the ride, an action which Blanding says had an incipient in amerda. Blanding sued Lyft after its drivers carried out the incident and accuses the company and driver of discrimination on a protected basis (weight). However, her lawyers say that it is as unlawful to refuse a ride because of an individual’s size as it is in refusing it because of race, religion or disability. It’s not just a personal fight for Blanding, but a legal action against aquiring body discrimination, in particular while traveling through the public and the private sector.
The incident has quickly attracted the attention of social media users, who have begun debating over a hot topic relating to accessibility and body image. Blanding’s lawsuit accuses the driver of causing her ‘great emotional distress’ and is asking for both compensatory and punitive damages in the legal battle.
Online users have divided over the incident, with some piling up in support of the driver and the others with Blanding. The driver’s supporters insist that the refusal was not a case of discrimination but grounded in reasons of safety. For them, safety should be the first priority when driving passengers. The driver claim of ‘very tired tires’ was described by some as a suggestion that the vehicle was not in good condition and thus unsafe for anyone, regardless of size. Additionally, Blanding’s point that whatever the issue is, it has nothing to do with being small size wise but rather what sort of vehicle was ordered is brought up by some users. Some plus sized individuals like to ask for vehicle options such as Lyft XL or other options to get a bigger Lyft or other ride sharing company that offers a bit more space when they get in a car to ensure comfort and safety. However, critics of the lawsuit say that Blanding could have selected a bigger vehicle, and therefore should have known that he would fit into the backseat of a standard car.
However, other people, primarily those who are plus sized, have told their own stories about being treated unfairly by ride sharing drivers. These riders maintain that the refusal did amount to weight based discrimination, because the driver said never mentioned the possibility of a larger vehicle or offered an alternate solution. This incident for many in the plus size community is just another situation of being rejected and excluded in the public for a person’s body size. In addition, some commentators made the point that discrimination based on body size is frequently ignored in legal and social discussions as other forms are. Locals have also rallied around Blanding and said no one should be turned away just because he is big, including those who ride sharing services like Lyft are supposed to be inclusive and for all.
The lawsuit came in light of which, Lyft released a statement pledging that they would not tolerate discrimination and would not tolerate disrespect of all riders and drivers. The statements from the company condemned the driver’s actions as well as the expectation they have from all individuals, regardless of size or race or other personal characteristics to be treated with dignity and respect. Lyft went on to say that, as the case progresses, they would work with legal proceedings. Lyft’s response highlights a key problem in the ride sharing industry that rideshare drivers should be able to make their own decisions, but rideshare passengers shouldn’t be taken advantage of. For companies like Lyft, one of the key factors to consider is the valuing of both safety and inclusion of their service. Though the emphasis is on safety standards, companies also find themselves accused of discrimination if they deny passengers the privilege of using the service based on personal traits that seem to have little bearing on the passenger’s capacity to use the service safely.
It brings a lack of attention towards weight discrimination in public and legal discourse into focus. Weight based discrimination is different from other forms of discrimination such as racism or ableism; in many jurisdictions weight based discrimination is not considered a civil rights violation. Still, this case could become an important moment in the ongoing struggle to give people of all shapes equal treatment in matters of body image, health, and inclusivity. ‘But, this is not just one case; this is a lawsuit about a company that needs to have safe and inclusive transportation of passengers of whatever body type,’ Blanding said about the lawsuit. If this case proves successful, it may serve as a landmark precedent setting legal battle for future discrimination about body size cases in the transportation sector.
The more the court case goes forward, the more attention the issue of weight discrimination in common public services will attract. Whether or not Blanding’s lawsuit wins a legal victory, it has already started an important national discussion about how society has treated people based on their size and how those people are prevented from using important services such as transportation. For now, they are litigating for damages for emotional distress, to make Lyft pay and to ensure that no one else has to experience such wretchedness the next time. And this case, for many, will be a first step towards making ride sharing services more welcoming and inclusive to people of all sizes.
The ride sharing industry will likely be paying close attention to the lawsuit as it is likely to set a foundation for how body size discrimination will be handled in legal arenas to come as well. Whether or not this has a response, one thing is for certain: this event has raised attention to weight discrimination in public spaces, an issue which desperately needs attention.