Rapper Cardi B has been cleared of all charges in a civil assault case after a Los Angeles jury dismissed a $24 million lawsuit filed by a security guard who alleged the star had attacked her with a fingernail. The highly publicized trial, which took place in Alhambra, concluded with the jury ruling entirely in the rapper’s favor.
The lawsuit stemmed from a 2018 incident outside an obstetrician’s office, when Emani Ellis, a security guard, claimed Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, cut her cheek with a three-inch fingernail and spat on her. Cardi B had not publicly disclosed her pregnancy at the time. Ellis alleged the incident left her “traumatized,” leading her to seek compensation for pain and suffering.
Cardi B defended herself throughout the trial, testifying that Ellis had followed her into the building, filming her on a phone and refusing to give her space. Cardi B maintained that she never touched or spat on the guard but did admit to a heated verbal exchange, using strong language to demand the security guard “get out of my face.”
“My client feared for her unborn baby,” Cardi B’s lawyer told the jury, noting the rapper’s concern for her pregnancy, which she had not yet announced publicly. Cardi B’s pregnancy contributed significantly towards the case, as it rationalized her motivation for self-preservation rather than aggression.
Testimony from witnesses supported Cardi B’s version of events, including the obstetrician and his receptionist, Tierra Malcolm. The latter described Ellis as the aggressor, stating that the guard swung her arms toward the rapper, accidentally causing a cut to Malcolm’s own head. These accounts helped strengthen Cardi B’s defense, maintaining that she acted only in self-defense rather than assault.
The trial became viral in part due to Cardi B’s charismatic presence in the courtroom. Cardi B’s appearance in a variety of outfits and wigs caused a social media buzz, and both sides repeatedly referenced the length of her fingernails, debating whether they could have caused the alleged injury.
During closing arguments, Cardi B wore a black-and-white polka-dot suit accented with a red bow, her hair neatly tied up. Her legal team emphasized that Ellis was seeking an exaggerated payout and that the evidence did not support her claims. Ellis’ attorney countered, asking the jury to decide on a compensatory amount for the alleged pain and suffering, but the jury ultimately sided with Cardi B, awarding her full exoneration.
Outside the Los Angeles County courthouse, fans gathered to support the rapper. One admirer, Christine Orozco, brought a hand-drawn sign reading, “If the nail don’t fit, u must acquit,” a playful nod to the famous O.J. Simpson trial. Cardi B reportedly read the sign and laughed. Orozco explained that Cardi B’s nail on the day of the incident had a rounded tip, not sharp, suggesting that the injury claims are implausible.
The rapper, who proudly celebrates her Trinidadian heritage alongside her Bronx roots, has also been involved in other high-profile incidents in previous instances. Nevertheless, the case enhances her reputation as a performer adept at handling controversy, as she emerged unscathed from a potentially $24 million lawsuit.
The legal matter now solved in her favor, Cardi B’s attention turns back onto her career and personal life.
