A California jury has ruled in favor of Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B, clearing her of assault allegations in a civil lawsuit filed by former security guard Emani Ellis.
Ellis had accused Cardi B, born Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar, of cutting her cheek with a fingernail and spitting on her during an altercation outside a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s office in 2018. She sought $24 million in damages for medical bills, lost wages, and emotional trauma.
After days of testimony, jurors rejected Ellis’s claims, siding with the rapper, who denied ever touching the plaintiff. Cardi B testified that the encounter escalated verbally but never became physical, insisting she feared Ellis was attempting to expose her pregnancy, which had not yet been made public at the time.
The case highlighted the intense scrutiny celebrities face when trying to maintain privacy. Cardi B told the court she believed Ellis had been recording her during her private medical appointment and worried that sensitive information could be leaked.
Ellis, who said the incident left her humiliated and required cosmetic surgery, also testified that she lost her job following the dispute. Her legal team argued that the episode caused lasting harm, but the jury ultimately found insufficient evidence to support her claims.
The verdict closes a high-profile chapter for Cardi B, who has faced legal challenges in the past but continues to maintain a strong presence in the music industry. For Ellis, the outcome means no compensation in a case that sought to hold one of the world’s biggest rap stars accountable.
