Cardi B has had a number of courtroom battles over the years, but the latest legal troubles have triggered social media users to take sides with clips of the rapper’s testimony circulating widely online.
The latest civil trial is brought on by a former security guard, who claimed the rapper physically and verbally assaulted her, leading to indelible physical and emotional scars.
The security guard, Emani Ellis, who worked at the building of a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s office in 2018, alleges that the rapper scratched her face with long nails, requiring surgical procedures. Ellis also alleges that Cardi B “used her celebrity status” to get her fired.
Cardi B has denied the allegations, saying she became upset when Ellis filmed her as the rapper was walking into the doctor’s office. Cardi B was pregnant at the time and had not publicly announced her pregnancy yet.
Here are some of the key moments from inside and outside the courtroom Tuesday.
Cardi B gets upset outside the courthouse
During a lunch break between closing arguments, Cardi B walked out of the courthouse, wearing her polka dot suit with a pink bow, as some fans were waiting to get her autograph.
But a man, who was described as a social media content creator, asked her about her relationship with her estranged husband and rapper Offset.
“Insiders are claiming that Offset is publicly bragging about getting you pregnant for the fourth time,” the man said. “Do you foresee any paternity issues with Stefon Diggs?” Stefon Diggs, a football player, was rumored to be dating Cardi B.
Upon hearing the question, Cardi B threw a marker, with which she was going to use to sign autographs, screaming back at the man.
“Don’t disrespect me,” the rapper said. “Do you see women asking those types of questions to me? Why do you feel as a man you get to ask me those types of questions?”
Plaintiff arguing Cardi B robbed her of a future
As Emani Ellis sued for the monetary compensation of $24 million from the rapper, her attorney argued that the physical and verbal altercation with the rapper has resulted in “great mental, physical and nervous pain and suffering.”
Ellis’ attorney said in Tuesday’s closing arguments that because Ellis requires medical care in the future, the former security guard “lost her future.”
“In something further, whether it’s the FBI, police, attorney – whatever (Ellis) wanted to do, this incident cut it off,” the lawyer said. “No more — because of the trauma she sustained.”
Ellis worked as a security guard for four years, between 2014 and 2018, after getting her bachelor’s degree, according to her lawyer.
No witness during the first 40 seconds of the altercation?
Ellis’ attorney tried to refute a witness’s testimony during the closing argument.
A doctor’s secretary named Tierra Malcolm had said when she came out to the hallway after hearing commotion, she saw the security guard cornering Cardi B. Malcolm added she got between the two women, trying to diffuse the situation.
But Ellis’ attorney argued Malcolm’s testimony does not paint the full picture and leaves out the first few moments of the altercation, which was allegedly triggered by the rapper’s berating, “taking a swing” and spitting at Ellis.
What happened after the altercation?
Cardi B’s lawyer said that because Ellis was not injured unlike what she claims, the security guard did not file a police report and go to the hospital for her injuries.
“She claims that Cardi mauled her, basically cut her face, and this woman went home, and what did she do? She took a nap,” the rapper’s attorney said in his closing argument. “ She didn’t call a doctor, she didn’t go to the hospital, she didn’t put a bandaid on her face. She took a nap.”
Ellis later went to a plastic surgeon to make sure the scratch marks don’t turn into scars, her lawyers had said.