February 2018: outside a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s office.
At the time, Grammy-winning rapper and singer Cardi B was four months pregnant and had requested that the office be closed to other patients for her privacy.
A security guard, Emani Ellis, claims that, in the solitude, Cardi B physically assaulted her—scratching her face with her trademark long acrylic fingernails, spitting on her, and hurling racial slurs. Ellis claimed the alleged assault scarred her face, cost her job, and left her traumatized.
While Cardi B admitted there was, in fact, a heated verbal exchange, she denied any physical contact. She said Ellis appeared to be recording her without permission, invading her privacy. She testified, “She couldn’t get a scratch from me because I didn’t touch her,” and dismissed the lawsuit as a money grab. Her legal team argued Ellis failed to provide credible evidence that any altercation occurred.
Beyond the verdict itself, much of the trial drew attention online for what many fans called “silly” or “stupid” questioning. When the lawyer remarked, “Yesterday you had black hair, short hair. Today it’s blonde and long. Which one is your real hair? Or are they both real?”, Cardi B laughed before replying, “They’re wigs.” The lawyer, caught off guard, then said, “Okay. Sorry, I didn’t know that. It’s a good wig today, then.”
Similar questions followed, including regarding the shape and unnaturalness of the celebrity’s nails—the ‘weapon’ in question. Clips and quotes from the exchanges quickly circulated on social media, with fans mocking the lawyer’s approach and praising Cardi B’s quick wit in the courtroom.
So, after a week of testimony and widespread attention to Cardi B’s dynamic courtroom presence, a 12-person jury deliberated for less than an hour and unanimously ruled that Ellis failed to prove her claims. Cardi B was found not liable for any of the alleged harms and thus will not face any damages or penalties as a result of the case.
Leaving the courtroom, Cardi B declined to comment to reporters, but her fans quickly celebrated the verdict online. The outcome marked a significant legal win for the 32-year-old rapper, who has faced various lawsuits throughout her career but has continued to maintain her public image and successful music career. The verdict adds to Cardi B’s growing list of public victories, both in court and in music, reinforcing her status as one of today’s most influential entertainers.