Cardi B at Ashi Studio show as part of Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2025 on July 08, 2025 in Paris, France.
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Cardi B finally took the stand this week for her civil trial connected to allegedly assaulting a security guard in 2018. The 32-year-old artist denied making any physical contact with the alleged victim, but did admit to cursing at them.
The Bronx star appeared in Alhambra court in Los Angeles this past Tuesday (Aug. 26) for the second day of the civil trial, per the Los Angeles Times. She revealed that she was visiting the obstetrician’s office while four months pregnant, due to concerns about her pregnancy, which was not public at the time. She got infuriated because she felt like Emani Ellis, the security guard, was recording her with a cellphone.
She claimed that she asked her why she was recording her, and Ellis said, “My bad,” only to continue following her and recording her because she allegedly had the right to do so. Cardi admitted that she never saw proof that she was being recorded.
“It was a verbal incident,” the “Outside” rapper said. “She didn’t hit me. I didn’t hit her. There was no touching. So, to me, it wasn’t no incident.” The Grammy winner admitted that she and Ellis were chest to chest at one point while in the hallway outside of the doctor’s office, which prompted Ellis’s lawyer, Ron Rosen, to ask some follow-up questions.
Cardi denied calling Ellis the N-word, spitting at her, or taking a swing, doubling down on the claim that their interaction was nothing more than a “verbal fight.” Rosen offered a distinction between a fight and a verbal altercation, proceeding to ask the mother of three if they were having the latter in that moment.
Cardi countered and said they were “debating,” which caused members of the courtroom to laugh. “We’re debating about whether you assaulted and battered Ms. Emani Ellis?” Rosen asked. “I guess so,” Cardi replied. “But I didn’t touch her. She didn’t touch me.”
Cardi B attends the Stéphane Rolland Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2025/2026 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 08, 2025 in Paris, France.
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Ellis first sued the hitmaker in 2020, accusing her of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and false imprisonment. During her testimony, the security guard admitted to being excited about seeing Cardi B in her workplace.
Cardi allegedly got angry with Ellis for supposedly informing people that she was in the doctor’s office, and proceeded to curse at her, call her the N-word, body shame her, mock her job, and threaten to get her fired. Ellis also claimed that the Am I The Drama? rapper took a swing at her, scratched her on the cheek, and spat on her.