A Los Angeles jury has unanimously cleared rapper Cardi B of assault charges in a $24 million civil trial.
The lawsuit was filed by security guard Emani Ellis, who claimed Cardi B slashed her face with her fingernails, shouted racial slurs, and spat at her outside a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s office in 2018.
According to Ellis, the incident occurred when Cardi B was on her way to a medical appointment. Ellis claimed that Cardi B’s long fingernails left cuts on her face that required plastic surgery to fix.
However, Cardi B testified that she never touched Ellis and only cursed at her when Ellis tried to take cellphone video of the singer without her consent.
After the verdict, Cardi B maintained her innocence, stating, “I swear to God, I will say it on my death bed, I did not touch that woman. I did not touch that woman.” She also warned potential future litigants, saying, “The next person that tries to do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to counter-sue and I’m going to make you pay.”
Cardi B accused Ellis of trying to intimidate her, leading to a profanity-laced screaming match that was intervened by staff from the medical office.
The 12-member Los Angeles Superior Court jury deliberated for less than an hour before reaching a unanimous verdict siding with Cardi B. However, Emani Ellis’ lawyers have announced plans to appeal the decision, stating that the outcome doesn’t “reflect the truth” and alleging that the justice system is “sometimes flawed”
