Cardi B Found Not Liable for Assault of Former Security Guard in Civil Assault Trial By Charna Flam

Cardi B was found not liable for assault and battery against former security guard, Emani Ellis, a Los Angeles jury declared on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

The musician (who was born Belcalis Almanzar), 32, was sued by Ellis for $24 million. In 2020, Ellis claimed that the Grammy winner assaulted her outside of a Beverly Hills medical office in February 2018.

In its verdict, the jury said the singer will not have to pay any of the damages, and was not found guilty of Ellis’ claims that the singer hit her, cut her face, spit on her and said racial slurs to her.

Despite Ellis’ allegations against the singer, the jury said she failed to prove any of her claims that the singer engaged in assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence.

After the judge shared the jury’s verdict, the musician spoke to reporters outside the courthouse, saying, “I did not touch that woman. With that being said, this time around, I’m gonna be nice. The next time someone tries to do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to countersue. I’m going to make you pay, because this is not okay.”

Cardi B continued, “I think people have this misinterpretation of celebrities, that like, ‘Oh well, we can ask for this and they’re going to settle.’ You don’t work at home, and you don’t work all day, and you don’t work for your money to give out your money. So don’t ever think I’m just gonna give you my money that I work hard for. I don’t lay in bed all day. I work all day, and I work hard for my money for my kids and for people I take care of.”

She also asked her fans to leave Ellis and her family alone on social media, explaining she wants to “put this all behind.”

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At the time of the alleged incident, she was four months pregnant with her first child. The rapper admitted that she was involved in a “verbal altercation” with Ellis, whom she claimed was invading her privacy by video recording her before an OB-GYN appointment.

Before the confrontation, Cardi stepped off an elevator and into a hallway at Beverly Hills doctor’s office, where she then passed Ellis, who the singer claims was recording a video of her. Cardi also claims Ellis then told someone on the phone that she had just seen the musician. Ellis then claimed that Cardi cut her face with a fingernail and spat on her while yelling profanity and racial slurs at Ellis.

While Cardi said the two got into a verbal argument, she denied that she assaulted Ellis. She explained that at the time she had “a high level of concern.”

Ellis’ attorney, Ron Rosen Janfaza, asked Cardi why she was “concerned” during the altercation. “Because I’m pregnant!” Cardi responded. “And this girl’s about to f—— beat my ass! Hello?”

During the trial, after Cardi took the stand to deliver her testimony, several of her impassioned exchanges with the plaintiff’s lawyer, Ron Rosen Janfaza, went viral due to her unfiltered, expletive-laced responses and animated expressions, including eye rolls and shrugs.

Additionally, while she was giving her testimony, Rosen Janfaza fielded Cardi questions about legal terms. At one point, he asked her, “When I’m talking to you now, are we having a verbal altercation?”

Cardi B replied, “We’re having, I’ll say, a debate,” which drew a laugh from the crowd in the courtroom.