A jury has delivered a swift victory for hip-hop superstar Cardi B, finding her not liable in a civil lawsuit alleging assault by a former security guard. The verdict, reached after less than an hour of deliberation, concludes a high-profile trial that captured significant public attention.
Emani Ellis, the security guard, had accused the Grammy-winning artist of assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress stemming from a confrontation outside a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s office in February 2018. Ellis claimed that Cardi B, identified in court documents by her legal name Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, scratched her face with a long fingernail and spat on her during a heated argument. She further alleged the incident resulted in a scar requiring cosmetic surgery, led to her losing her job, and caused emotional and physical suffering, for which she sought damages reportedly totaling $24 million.
Cardi B, who was four months pregnant and keeping her pregnancy private at the time of the alleged incident, vehemently denied the accusations. Her defense centered on the argument that she never physically touched Ellis. The rapper testified that Ellis had followed her to her fifth-floor medical appointment and appeared to be recording her with a phone, which made Cardi B fear her pregnancy would be revealed. She described the encounter as a “verbal altercation” that escalated with profanity but stopped short of any physical contact. Cardi B stated on the stand, “I swear to God, I will say it on my deathbed: I did not touch that woman.”
Supporting Cardi B’s account, witnesses including the office receptionist, Tierra Malcolm, and the obstetrician, Dr. David Finke, testified that they witnessed a heated exchange but did not see Cardi B physically assault Ellis. Malcolm testified that she intervened to break up the argument and sustained a cut on her own forehead in the process, while Finke stated he saw the guard cause that injury and also hit the receptionist, but observed no injuries to Ellis herself.
Cardi B’s testimony during the trial drew considerable online attention, with clips of her candid and sometimes humorous responses going viral. She addressed questions about her pregnancy, her wigs, and her interactions with Ellis, often with a blunt demeanor that resonated with viewers. The rapper also admitted to using profanity and described the argument as being “chest-to-chest” but maintained that it never turned physical.
Ellis’s legal team argued that Cardi B should be held accountable, presenting her account of the incident as a “violent attack” that left Ellis humiliated and traumatized. They highlighted the alleged scar and the impact on her career prospects.
Cardi B’s attorney, Peter J. Anderson, argued that Ellis’s account lacked credibility and that there was no concrete evidence of harm. He emphasized that Cardi B admitted only to yelling and cursing, actions that he contended are not grounds for a lawsuit.
Following the verdict, Cardi B expressed relief and gratitude, thanking her legal team and the jury. She reiterated her innocence and issued a stern warning, stating, “The next time someone tries to do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to countersue. I’m going to make you pay, because this is not okay.” She also noted that the trial had caused her to miss her children’s first day of school.
The trial, held in Alhambra, California, saw a jury of nine members reach a unanimous decision clearing Cardi B of all charges, including assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and false imprisonment. The case’s progression was closely watched, with the rapper’s testimony becoming a significant talking point on social media, further cementing her status as a prominent figure in both music and popular culture.
