Quick Read
- Cardi B denies allegations of assaulting security guard Emani Ellis in 2018.
- The rapper maintains the confrontation was strictly verbal, not physical.
- Ellis claims Cardi B spat on her and scratched her face, seeking damages.
- Cardi B highlights inconsistencies in Ellis’s testimony and denies all accusations.
Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, took the stand in an Alhambra courtroom on August 26, 2025, to defend herself against allegations of assault and battery brought by Emani Ellis, a security guard. The incident in question occurred on February 24, 2018, outside a Beverly Hills medical office. Cardi B, who was four months pregnant at the time, maintains that the confrontation was strictly verbal and denies any physical altercation. The trial, now in its second day, has captivated public attention.
Allegations of Assault and Battery
Ellis, who worked as a security guard at the medical building, claims that Cardi B attacked her during the incident. According to Ellis, the rapper spat on her, struck her face and body, and scratched her cheek with long fingernails, causing injuries that required plastic surgery. Ellis also alleges that Cardi B used racial slurs, body-shamed her, and mocked her career during the confrontation. In her 2020 lawsuit, Ellis accused Cardi B of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and false imprisonment, seeking monetary damages.
Ellis testified that she was performing her rounds when she saw Cardi B exiting an elevator. Overwhelmed with excitement, she exclaimed, “Wow, it’s Cardi B.” This, according to Ellis, prompted the rapper to accuse her of spreading news about her visit to the doctor and attempting to record her on a cellphone. Ellis alleged that the confrontation escalated from verbal abuse to physical violence.
Cardi B’s Defense: A Verbal Confrontation, Not Physical
Cardi B has vehemently denied the allegations, stating under oath that the confrontation was verbal and did not involve any physical contact. “It was a verbal incident,” she testified. “She didn’t hit me. I didn’t hit her. There was no touching. So, to me, it wasn’t no incident.” Cardi B explained that she confronted Ellis after suspecting her of recording the rapper without consent. She admitted to cursing at Ellis but insisted that she never spat on, hit, or scratched her.
The rapper also highlighted inconsistencies in Ellis’s claims, noting that there is no video evidence to support the allegations. Cardi B testified that Ellis, who was physically larger, followed her and claimed the right to do so, leading to a heated argument. “You’re recording me. Now you’re following me, like back up,” Cardi B recounted, adding that the situation never turned physical.
The Context of the Incident
At the time of the alleged incident, Cardi B was visiting her obstetrician for a sensitive and confidential appointment related to her pregnancy, which had not yet been publicly disclosed. The rapper testified that she felt vulnerable and was concerned about her privacy being violated. She admitted to reacting strongly but maintained that her actions did not cross the line into physical assault.
Cardi B also addressed Ellis’s claims about her fingernails, which were alleged to have caused scratches. When asked to describe the length and shape of her nails, Cardi B demonstrated in court that they were less than an inch long and rounded, contradicting Ellis’s description of sharp, 2- to 3-inch-long nails.
Public and Legal Reactions
The trial has drawn significant media attention, with Cardi B’s courtroom demeanor and testimony making headlines. The rapper appeared confident and composed, describing the lawsuit as a “shakedown for money” during an exchange with reporters outside the courtroom. Legal experts have noted the challenges in proving assault allegations without video evidence, especially given the discrepancies in Ellis’s testimony highlighted during cross-examination.
On the stand, Cardi B remained steadfast in her account, stating, “I guess we’re debating about whether I assaulted and battered Ms. Emani Ellis. But I didn’t touch her. She didn’t touch me.” The defense has argued that Ellis’s claims are exaggerated and lack substantiating evidence.
As the trial unfolds, it remains to be seen how the jury will weigh the conflicting testimonies and lack of physical evidence. The case underscores the complexities of celebrity privacy and the legal challenges of navigating public and private lives.