US rapper Cardi B has been cleared of all charges in a civil lawsuit after a Beverly Hills security guard accused her of assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The case, brought by Emani Ellis, sought $24m (£18.9m) in damages and alleged that the artist scratched her face during a confrontation at a medical office in February 2018. The incident occurred while Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, was four months pregnant and attending an obstetric appointment.
Ellis told the court that she encountered the star while making her rounds as a building security guard. She claimed the rapper confronted her after suspecting she was spreading rumours about her presence at the clinic. Ellis alleged that Cardi B spat on her, insulted her, and left her with a facial scar after scratching her with a nail extension.
Cardi B denied all accusations. Taking the stand for two days, she insisted that she never struck or spat at Ellis, describing instead a heated verbal exchange. The artist argued that Ellis was the aggressor, claiming the guard confronted her and blocked her path. “I swear to God, I will say it on my deathbed, I did not touch that woman,” she said outside court.
Witnesses supported Cardi B’s account. A receptionist at the medical office testified that Ellis cornered the rapper and attempted to grab her, while the attending physician told the jury that he saw Ellis injure Cardi B during the altercation. Both said they did not see the rapper assault the guard.
During closing arguments, Ellis’ lawyer, Ron Rosen Janfaza, insisted that the incident constituted battery, pointing out that the two women had been chest-to-chest during the exchange. He urged the jury to trust Ellis’ account, citing her record as a security professional.
However, Cardi B’s lawyer, Peter Anderson, countered that Ellis’ claims were exaggerated, emphasising the absence of medical evidence or immediate police involvement. He argued that at most, the incident involved shouting and insults, which did not meet the legal threshold for assault.
The jury took less than an hour to reach its decision, finding Cardi B not liable on all counts.
Speaking outside the courthouse, the Grammy-winning artist expressed relief, though noted the toll of the proceedings, which prevented her from seeing her children on their first day of school. She thanked her legal team, the judge, and the jury, adding: “I want to thank the polite press too.”
The case drew attention both for its celebrity profile and Cardi B’s candid testimony, at times marked by humour and blunt exchanges. At one point, when asked if she felt disabled during pregnancy, she rolled her eyes and quipped: “At that moment, when you’re pregnant, I’m very disabled.”
For Cardi B, the verdict closes a seven-year legal battle stemming from a brief but disputed encounter.
