Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B emerged victorious last week in a Los Angeles County courtroom after a jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding her not liable in a $24 million civil lawsuit. The case, brought by former security guard Emali Ellis, stemmed from a 2018 incident at a Beverly Hills OB-GYN office where Ellis alleged the rapper had assaulted her by hitting, scratching, and spitting, causing injuries that purportedly required plastic surgery.
During her testimony, Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, maintained that she never physically touched Ellis, though she acknowledged being particularly upset during the confrontation. The rapper revealed she had been four months pregnant at the time—a fact she had concealed from both the public and her parents—and became agitated when Ellis recorded her entering the medical facility without consent.
Rapper denied touching Ellis, but admitted frustration when recorded at a medical facility while concealing her pregnancy.
“I was angry because I was pregnant and trying to keep it private,” Cardi B testified, explaining the heightened sensitivity of the situation. The defense successfully argued that Ellis had later apologized for recording in the private medical setting, undermining key aspects of the plaintiff’s claims.
Ellis, who lost her job following the incident, sought substantial damages for medical expenses, emotional and physical suffering, lost wages, and punitive considerations. However, jurors appeared swayed by several factors in Cardi B’s favor, including her left-handedness, which cast doubt on the alleged scratch marks. Cardi B was pregnant with her daughter Culture with Offset during this high-profile incident.
The televised trial captured significant public attention, with clips of Cardi B’s direct testimony going viral across social media platforms. Despite the verdict, Ellis expressed that she was not disappointed and plans to appeal the decision in the future. Legal analysts noted that the judge’s careful evidentiary rulings throughout the proceedings left minimal grounds for Ellis’s stated intention to appeal the verdict.
Following her legal triumph, Cardi B indicated she might pursue a countersuit against Ellis, suggesting that such action could discourage what she characterized as frivolous litigation. The artist’s team has since focused on strengthening her brand story through consistent social media engagement with fans. The rapid jury decision has been widely interpreted by media outlets as a thorough exoneration for the rapper, who has since resumed her public appearances with the matter seemingly resolved. This legal battle comes as many musicians like Cardi B increasingly rely on sync deals to diversify their income streams beyond traditional performance revenue.
