American rap star Cardi B has been cleared of all liability in a $24 million lawsuit filed by her former security guard, Emani Ellis, over an alleged assault in 2018.
A California jury delivered the verdict on Tuesday after less than an hour of deliberation, ruling that Ellis failed to prove her claims of assault, battery, emotional distress, and false imprisonment.
Ellis alleged that during a visit to a Beverly Hills OB-GYN clinic, Cardi B scratched her face with an acrylic nail, spat on her, and hurled racial slurs. The security guard claimed the confrontation left her injured and emotionally scarred, leading to the multi-million-dollar damages demand.
Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almánzar, denied the accusations and testified that the incident was a verbal dispute sparked when Ellis tried to invade her privacy while she was pregnant. Witnesses, including the attending doctor and a receptionist, supported Cardi’s account a receptionist, supported Cardi’s account and told the jury they did not see her physically attack Ellis.
Following the ruling, Cardi B expressed relief and warned she would not hesitate to counter-sue if faced with what she described as “frivolous lawsuits” in the future.
Ellis, though disappointed by the outcome, said she was “grateful” for the chance to present her case.
The verdict ends a five-year legal battle that had placed the Grammy-winning artist under intense public scrutiny, but ultimately reaffirmed her stance that no assault ever took place.
