Latest news with #Demoss
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Midwest Rumor Mill: Latest buzz from elite event in Detroit
DETROIT – Many top prospects from around the country made their way to Michigan over the weekend for one of the best camps of the summer. The National College Showcase presented by Sound Mind Sound Body was back at Wayne State. National recruiting analyst Greg Smith was in attendance and caught up with a slew of prospects in attendance. Advertisement MORE RUMOR MILL: Latest buzz as busy June kicks off CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Rivals Five-Star heading back to Indy | Rivals Five-Star roster | Schedule/info The Rivals250 four-star tight end out of Illinois has had a big summer racking up offers from around the country. His latest offers are from Florida State, Arkansas, Maryland and Minnesota. He's getting back to 100 percent from an ankle injury but it's easy to see why programs like him when you see his frame. Advertisement Keep an eye on a pair of Big Ten rivals in his recruitment, too. Michigan and Ohio State are two offers he covets and each program has been in touch. Michigan, Wisconsin and Michigan State are recruiting Demoss the hardest. He's visited all those programs this spring and the energy at practices plus the size of the players really stood out. The early program to watch here is Michigan. The relationship with coach Sherrone Moore is one of his best with any coach and the Wolverines have done a great job recruiting Chicago recently. Guerrant was the best offensive player at the showcase portion of the camp on Sunday. He's a smooth route runner and I didn't see him drop a single pass. He'll be busy this summer with visits to Ohio State, Texas A&M, Oregon, Penn State and Tennessee. Advertisement But the program to watch out for is no real surprise. Ohio State is going to be a strong contender for him even as he remains open to getting to know other programs. He wants a school that produces NFL players at his position with a winning tradition. Injaychock was just offered by NC State and Northwestern so those programs are standing out most to him. He's visited Northwestern twice this spring and has built a great relationship with the team's offensive line coach. After this weekend's camp he's going to camp at Michigan and Ohio State to get a gauge on how some of the top programs in the country feel about him. Advertisement He had a cool moment on Sunday when he was offered by Temple, which is where his grandfather played college football. Petzold was a nice surprise of camp. He caught the eye of some coaches on Saturday during testing because of his well-built frame. He came into the weekend with offers from Southern Miss and Kent State but Western Kentucky offered him on the spot after testing. He was looking to make a name for himself at the camp and accomplished that mission. He's looking for a strong culture in his future program that has a good fan base to bring energy to each game he plays in. The 2028 Michigan quarterback has all the makings of being the next big thing to come out of the state at the position. It's tough to overlook the strong ties to Michigan since it's the in-state program and he's close with Bryce Underwood. Advertisement But Tabron is going to camp with Notre Dame and Ohio State this summer to see where those schools stand with him. He also picked up an offer from Indiana during camp this weekend. We'll know a lot more about his recruitment following this summer. Willis is taking his recruitment slowly right now. He's going to hit a handful of megacamps in the South to increase his exposure. He is closing in on 20 offers right now and picked up an offer from Illinois after the camp. He also is feeling the love from in-state Michigan State right now. Willis plans to narrow down his recruitment soon, maybe heading into his junior season.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dank Demoss Believes Plus-Size People Need Advocacy Similar To The LGBTQ Community
After rapper Dank Demoss called out Lyft for weight discrimination, the Detroit native appeared on The Breakfast Club to discuss plus-size advocacy and the lack of accommodations for plus-size people. The conversation had an awkward start when Demoss—real name Dajua Blanding—sat uncomfortably in the chair at the mic. 'This the only seat y'all got?,' she asked. Production brought over a part of the sectional and she replied, 'This is what I'm talking about. Good; this is accommodations.' Charlamagne Tha God brought up her sentiment, noting that said 'accommodations' won't always be catered to. To which Demoss responded, 'But we should. We not all the same,' Demoss explained during the conversation. 'Why not? I feel like a lot of times people think that bigger people, obese people, the f-word people should be in the house.' The 'f-word' in question is fat, but she opted out of using that term as she considers herself to be 'obese.' The rapper continued, 'Bigger people should be accommodated just like we accommodate the LGBT community.' She spoke on criticism that larger people face, whether they're inside or outside. 'We go outside and people looking at us crazy and for what? 'Cause we big?,' Demoss questioned. As clips of the nearly 40-minute interview began to circulate, it sparked mixed reactions on social media. One woman tweeted, 'Accommodations are for the elderly, disabled, etc. Conditions that are irreversible. Being overweight should not fall into that category.' Someone else commented, 'She's right. Regardless of how she got to that weight (genetics, medical conditions or a calorie surplus) we don't know! There should absolutely be accommodations for her. As she said, everyone isn't the same.' The majority of the responses felt she's 'clout chasing.' Demoss initially gained notoriety after suing Lyft when a driver declined her ride and blamed it on her weight. More from Mustard Explains How Drake Can Bounce Back After Losing Beef To Kendrick Lamar 'Power Book III: Raising Kanan' Raises The Stakes In Season 4 Trailer *EMBARGO FEB. 11 1pm ET* Michelle Williams Dishes On Destiny's Child Group Chat, Shares Who Texts The Most
Express Tribune
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Dank Demoss advocates for plus-sized people: "We should be treated like the LGBT community"
Dank Demoss, also known as Dajua Blanding, is using her platform to highlight weight discrimination after a Lyft driver refused to give her a ride based on her size. During a Breakfast Club interview, the Detroit rapper explained her experience and drew comparisons to the LGBT community's fight for accommodations. ' Why not?' Demoss said when asked why people should accommodate larger individuals. 'Bigger people should be accommodated just like we accommodate the LGBT community.' Her comments come after she publicly spoke about a discriminatory Lyft incident, where a driver told her he couldn't offer a ride due to her size. She's now suing Lyft for discrimination while also advocating for broader changes to how plus-sized people are treated in everyday environments. During her interview, Demoss also highlighted an awkward moment when she was uncomfortable in the 'Breakfast Club' studio chair, which led her to speak out about the lack of accommodations. 'This is what I'm talking about… accommodations,' she said, using the experience to make a larger point about the challenges plus-sized individuals face daily. Social media users chimed in with their opinions about the rappers comments in light of her case aganist Lyft. Many criticised Demoss for trying to normalise obesity while others were more sympathetic. Accommodations are for the elderly, disabled, etc. Conditions that are irreversible. Being overweight should not fall into that category. — Black Buddafly (@JillScottTwin) She's fully clout chasing and cost that man his damn job. I understand accommodations for people but she's already acting like a diva. 15 minutes need to be up asap. — Sheree's Stolen Joggers (@richyrich323) She's right. Regardless of how she got to that weight (genetics, medical conditions or a calorie surplus) we dont know! Their should absolutely be accommodations for her. As she said, everyone isnt the same. — ✨ (@slim_godiva) Her advocacy is raising awareness for a community that often feels overlooked, and her comparison to LGBT rights is pushing for a more inclusive approach to human rights and basic accommodations.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Detroit rapper Dank Demoss sues Lyft claiming she was denied a ride due to her weight
Detroit rapper Dank Demoss is suing the ride-share company Lyft claiming she wasn't allowed to enter a car she ordered due to her weight. Demoss, whose legal name is Dajua Blanding, had shared video on Instagram on Jan. 19 capturing an interaction with an alleged Lyft driver who denied her a ride. 'I'm sorry. I got no space. My car is small,' the driver said in the clip. 'I can fit in this car,' Demoss, 29, replied. 'Believe me you can't … so I'm sorry. I'm gonna cancel [the ride], you're not gonna be charged,' the driver replied. '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?' Demoss said. The driver responded, 'Yeah you need to order a bigger car.' He went on to say he had an issue with his tires as a reason that she couldn't ride in the car. DeMoss announced the lawsuit Tuesday on social media, posting videos of herself with her attorneys. The suit was filed in Wayne County circuit court in Michigan, against Lyft and the driver, only identified as John Doe, for violating Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discriminatory practices based on religion, race, color, age, sex, height, weight and familial status. According to the complaint, on Jan. 18, Demoss paid for a Lyft ride from her residence in Detroit to a football watch-party at her cousin's home. When the driver, John Doe, arrived in a Mercedes Benz sedan and she attempted to enter the vehicle, he allegedly locked the doors to his vehicle and tried to drive away. He allegedly explained that Demoss was 'too big'to fit in the back seat and 'his tires were not capable of supporting Plaintiff's weight,' the complaint said. He ultimately drove off and Demoss was unable to attend her cousin's party. As a result she suffered stress, humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional damage, the complaint said. '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 said. The lawsuit seeks that the court or jury pay damages covering attorney fees, costs and exemplary damages. Demoss said the ordeal has left her scarred and she hopes the suit will change how people treat others. 'I was embarrassed and I felt some type of way about it,' she told NBC affiliate WDIV of Detroit. 'I haven't really left my house since that.' Zach Runyan, Demoss' attorney, said in a statement: 'Refusing someone transportation based on their weight is not only illegal, but dangerous.' '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,' he added. Lyft said in a statement in 'unequivocally condemns all forms of discrimination.' '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.' Against Lyft spokesperson said. Lyft noted it cannot comment on specific incidents involving pending litigation and that Lyft drivers work as independent contractors. This article was originally published on
NBC News
29-01-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Detroit rapper Dank Demoss sues Lyft claiming she was denied a ride due to her weight
Detroit rapper Dank Demoss is suing the ride-share company Lyft claiming she wasn't allowed to enter a car she ordered due to her weight. Demoss, whose legal name is Dajua Blanding, had shared video on Instagram on Jan. 19 capturing an interaction with an alleged Lyft driver who denied her a ride. 'I'm sorry. I got no space. My car is small,' the driver said in the clip. 'I can fit in this car,' Demoss, 29, replied. 'Believe me you can't … so I'm sorry. I'm gonna cancel [the ride], you're not gonna be charged,' the driver replied. '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?' Demoss said. The driver responded, 'Yeah you need to order a bigger car.' He went on to say he had an issue with his tires as a reason that she couldn't ride in the car. DeMoss announced the lawsuit Tuesday on social media, posting videos of herself with her attorneys. The suit was filed in Wayne County circuit court in Michigan, against Lyft and the driver, only identified as John Doe, for violating Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discriminatory practices based on religion, race, color, age, sex, height, weight and familial status. According to the complaint, on Jan. 18, Demoss paid for a Lyft ride from her residence in Detroit to a football watch-party at her cousin's home. When the driver, John Doe, arrived in a Mercedes Benz sedan and she attempted to enter the vehicle, he allegedly locked the doors to his vehicle and tried to drive away. He allegedly explained that Demoss was 'too big'to fit in the back seat and 'his tires were not capable of supporting Plaintiff's weight,' the complaint said. He ultimately drove off and Demoss was unable to attend her cousin's party. As a result she suffered stress, humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional damage, the complaint said. '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 said. The lawsuit seeks that the court or jury pay damages covering attorney fees, costs and exemplary damages. Demoss said the ordeal has left her scarred and she hopes the suit will change how people treat others. 'I was embarrassed and I felt some type of way about it,' she told NBC affiliate WDIV of Detroit. 'I haven't really left my house since that.' Zach Runyan, Demoss' attorney, said in a statement: 'Refusing someone transportation based on their weight is not only illegal, but dangerous.' '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,' he added. Lyft said in a statement in 'unequivocally condemns all forms of discrimination.' '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.' Against Lyft spokesperson said. Lyft noted it cannot comment on specific incidents involving pending litigation and that Lyft drivers work as independent contractors.
