Cardi B cleared of assault charges in $24M Civil Trial

Rapper Cardi B has been cleared of assault in a $24 million civil lawsuit in which she was accused of scratching a woman’s face with her fingernails during an altercation in 2018.

The verdict was delivered Tuesday by a jury in Los Angeles, dismissing claims by plaintiff Emani Ellis that the then-pregnant star attacked her outside a Beverly Hills medical office. Ellis alleged that Cardi B used racial slurs, spat at her, and injured her face, but the jury found no merit in the accusations.

During the trial, Cardi B, 32, testified that Ellis aggressively confronted her while attempting to film her on a phone, leading to a heated verbal exchange before medical staff intervened. Her lawyers argued that the rapper, who was four months pregnant at the time, was trying to keep her pregnancy private and away from public scrutiny.

After the ruling, Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar, firmly denied ever touching Ellis. “I swear to God, I will say it on my death bed, I did not touch that woman,” she said, warning against frivolous lawsuits.

“This time around I’m going to be nice, but the next person that tries a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to counter-sue and make you pay,” she added.

The case, which gained attention for Cardi B’s bold courtroom appearances and sharp exchanges with lawyers, has now been officially dismissed.