A Los Angeles jury has cleared Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B of all assault allegations in a closely watched civil trial. The case stemmed from a 2018 altercation involving a security guard, but after less than an hour of deliberations, the jury sided unanimously with the rapper, rejecting claims of assault, battery, emotional distress, negligence, and false imprisonment.
The lawsuit was filed by Emani Ellis, a former security guard, who alleged that Cardi B scratched her face with a long acrylic nail, spat on her, and hurled racial slurs during an argument outside a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s office while the artist was pregnant. Ellis claimed the incident caused lasting injuries that required plastic surgery and led to the loss of her job, seeking $24 million in damages.
Cardi B, born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, acknowledged the verbal argument but firmly denied laying hands on Ellis. She testified that the dispute escalated only after Ellis followed and recorded her, insisting that no physical contact, spitting, or racial slurs took place. Witnesses in the clinic, including a physician and receptionist, bolstered her defense by testifying that no assault occurred and, instead, described Ellis as having struck the receptionist during the heated exchange.
The trial itself became a spectacle, with Cardi B’s characteristic humor and sharp remarks making headlines. At one point, she described the confrontation as “a debate” rather than an attack, drawing laughter in the courtroom. In another moment, she reflected on her pregnancy at the time, saying it left her emotionally and physically strained. These statements, shared widely on social media, reinforced her ability to command public attention even in a courtroom setting.
When the verdict was delivered, Cardi B appeared visibly relieved. Speaking outside the courthouse, she declared: “I did not touch that woman, I did not lay my hands on that girl,” adding that she intended to defend herself vigorously against what she called frivolous lawsuits in the future. Ellis, standing by her account, said she did not regret pursuing the case and signaled plans to appeal.
The verdict represents a significant legal victory for Cardi B, closing the chapter on a six-year dispute that had loomed over her career. Beyond the immediate outcome, the trial highlighted broader questions about the tensions between celebrity privacy, personal security, and the scrutiny faced by public figures.
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