Cardi B can finally exhale. A Los Angeles jury has cleared the Grammy-winning rapper of all liability in a $24 million lawsuit brought by a former security guard who claimed Cardi assaulted her during an alleged altercation in 2018. The verdict not only saves Cardi from paying millions in damages but also marks another chapter in her very public battles inside courtrooms and outside in the spotlight.
The lawsuit was filed by Emani Ellis, who worked as a security guard at a Beverly Hills medical building where Cardi B’s obstetrician’s office was located. Ellis claimed that Cardi, who was pregnant with her first child at the time, lashed out, cutting her cheek with a 3-inch fingernail and spitting on her. She alleged the injuries were so severe that they required plastic surgery and caused her to lose her job due to the unwanted attention surrounding the high-profile incident.
Ellis argued that Cardi’s celebrity status made the fallout worse, leaving her with long-lasting physical and emotional scars.
Cardi B’s Defense
But Cardi B, born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, painted a very different picture during her testimony. She told jurors she had been trying to protect the privacy of her pregnancy with estranged husband Offset when Ellis allegedly followed her, filmed her on a phone, and refused to back off.
“I told her, ‘Why are you recording?’ and she said, ‘Oh my bad,’” Cardi testified. “She practically apologized.”
Cardi explained that the confrontation escalated only because Ellis kept moving closer and backing into her. Importantly, she insisted she never touched Ellis, a point she hammered home both in court and in her fiery remarks afterward.
Witness Testimony Supports Cardi
Testimony from Cardi B’s doctor, David Finke, and his receptionist added weight to her defense. Both witnesses told the court they never saw any physical altercation take place. In fact, the office had been closed early that day specifically to protect Cardi’s privacy.
A receptionist also confirmed breaking up the argument but backed Cardi’s account that the incident never turned violent.
The Jury’s Decision
After hearing testimony, the jury ultimately sided with Cardi B, dismissing the $24 million claim and handing her a major legal victory. The verdict drew attention not just for the size of the lawsuit but also for Cardi’s outspoken and animated presence in court.
The jurors determined that former security officer Emani Ellis did not convincingly prove her claims that Cardi B physically assaulted her, scratched her face with fingernails, spat on her, and shouted racial slurs.
Outside the courthouse, she didn’t hold back. “I swear to God, even if I’m at my death bed, I will say it — I did not touch that woman,” Cardi told reporters. “I didn’t lay my hands on that girl. I hope that this is something I leave behind.”
What This Means for Cardi B
This case adds to a growing list of legal battles Cardi has faced in recent years, but walking away from this one unscathed is significant. For Cardi, it means closure and another chance to keep her focus where she wants it: on her music, her family, and her ever-growing empire.