Cardi B Acquitted in $24 Million Assault Case

Sat Sep 13 2025 12:24:29 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

After a Los Angeles jury took just about an hour to deliberate, Cardi B has been cleared of all assault charges brought against her by a security guard. The high-profile case drew significant attention and featured the rapper's colorful courtroom testimony.

Cardi B was acquitted of assaulting a security guard, who claimed the rapper attacked her with a fingernail and spat on her during a confrontation back in 2018. The jury's quick decision follows a series of viral moments during the trial where Cardi offered candid testimonies about the incident. Cardi B stated that she would not settle the case, asserting her right to defend herself against what she deemed an unfounded lawsuit. Following the verdict, she urged her fans not to harass the plaintiff. The case revolved around an encounter that occurred while she was four months pregnant, which was not publicly known at the time.

Cardi B was cleared of assault by a Los Angeles jury after a security guard sued her for $24m (£18m) in a fingernail attack. Emani Ellis alleged that the US rapper cut her cheek with a 3in (7.5cm) fingernail and spat on her outside an obstetrician's office in 2018. The rapper was pregnant at the time, which wasn't public knowledge.

The civil trial in Alhambra led to a series of viral moments as the rapper took the stand and offered colourful testimony about the incident and her fashion choices. She told the court that the guard followed her and filmed her on her phone and wouldn't give her space or privacy. Ms Ellis, though, said it left her traumatised.

The jury took only about an hour to clear the Grammy-winning rapper of the allegations of assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress as well as negligence and false imprisonment.

Speaking to reporters following the ruling, Cardi B said: I work all day and I work hard for my money, for my kids, for the people that I take care of. So don't you ever think that you're going to sue me, and I'm just going to settle. The rapper also called on her fans not to bother Ms Ellis or her family now that a judgement had been reached.

The case revolved around Cardi B's obstetrics appointment, when she was four months pregnant with her first child. The office closed for the day to shield her privacy, as her pregnancy was not publicly known.

Cardi B acknowledged to the court that she and Ms Ellis had a profanity-laden shouting match after she showed up to the doctor's appointment. She testified that she had never touched the guard or spat on her! Her testimony went viral as she changed wigs and outfits each day.

The performer, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, added that Ms Ellis appeared to record her on her phone and refused to back up, before a face-to-face verbal altercation ensued. Her lawyer noted how the star had feared for her unborn baby and hadn't discussed the news of her pregnancy publicly yet. Ultimately, the jury cleared the rapper entirely in the case.