Lyft Driver Refused to Pick Her Up Because of Her Size — Her Response Is Blowing Up the Internet (2 of 3)

Within seconds, the ride was canceled. But what stunned Kaya the most was the message that popped up after:
“Not picking her up. I don’t drive her kind.”

At first, she thought it had to be a glitch. Then came the real gut-punch: a follow-up message from the driver’s account saying, “Not tryna break my suspension. She can walk.”

Yes, he really said that.

“I froze. I didn’t know whether to scream or cry,” Kaya said. “This wasn’t about weight. This was about worth. That man looked at me like I wasn’t even human.”

The incident has sparked national outrage after Kaya posted screenshots of the messages on social media. Her caption?
“This is what fatphobia looks like. This is what women deal with. I’m not staying silent.”

The post exploded overnight, with the hashtag #HerKindDeservesRides racking up over 2.2 million views in less than 24 hours.

Lyft responded with a brief statement:
“We are actively investigating this matter. Discrimination based on body size, race, or appearance violates our policies and will not be tolerated.”

But for Kaya, the damage is already done.

“This wasn’t just some rude comment,” said her attorney, civil rights litigator Tanya Belton. “This was targeted, intentional discrimination—rooted in racism and body shaming. And it has consequences.”

The lawsuit filed Wednesday accuses Lyft of negligence, emotional harm, and allowing a pattern of unchecked bias among its drivers. Kaya is seeking damages for distress, reputational harm, and the cancellation of a promotional appearance the next morning due to the emotional fallout.

“She’s a rising star,” Belton added. “But imagine being told, to your face, you’re not worthy of basic decency because of your size. Imagine being a Black woman in America and being made to feel invisible—and then laughed at.”