Cardi B, the Grammy-winning rapper known for her unfiltered candor and ever-changing style, has found herself in the spotlight for reasons far removed from her chart-topping hits. In late August 2025, she took the witness stand in a civil trial in Los Angeles County, facing allegations of assault from Emani Ellis, a former building security guard. The case, which dates back to a 2018 incident in the hallway of a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s office, has captivated both the public and the media, not only for its celebrity intrigue but also for the viral moments and sharp exchanges that have played out in court and across social media.
According to CNN and The Associated Press, the lawsuit centers on an encounter that occurred when Cardi B—whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar—was four months pregnant with her first child, Kulture, and on her way to a medical appointment. Ellis alleges that the rapper physically attacked her, cutting her face with a fingernail, spitting on her, and using racial slurs. She claims the incident left her with a scar requiring cosmetic surgery, psychological trauma, and ultimately cost her job. As a result, Ellis is seeking $24 million in damages, including compensation for medical expenses, emotional distress, lost wages, and punitive damages.
Cardi B, however, has steadfastly denied all allegations of physical contact. On the stand, she recounted the heated verbal altercation, insisting that it never turned physical. "She couldn’t get a scratch from me because I didn’t touch her," Cardi B testified, as reported by AP. She described being confronted by Ellis, who she said was recording her with a phone as she arrived at the doctor's office. The rapper, who had not yet made her pregnancy public, said she was worried about her privacy being breached. "I told her, ‘Why are you recording?’" Cardi B said in court, adding that Ellis apologized. Still, the argument escalated, with both women standing chest-to-chest in the hallway.
When pressed by Ellis’s attorney, Ron Rosen Janfaza, about her emotions during the confrontation, Cardi B didn’t mince words. “Yes I was angry! Because I’m pregnant! And this girl’s about to beat my ass!” she exclaimed, drawing laughter from the courtroom. Yet, she maintained, "She didn’t touch me. She was going to touch me, but she didn’t get to touch me." Cardi B further explained that, at four months pregnant, she felt physically vulnerable: "When you’re pregnant, I’m very disabled. You want me to tell you things I can’t do?" Her quips and bluntness, including the now-viral retort, “You want me to say it to her face?” when asked to repeat her expletive-laden remarks directly to Ellis, have only fueled public fascination.
The details of the exchange have been closely scrutinized. Cardi B admitted to being "chest to chest" with Ellis and using harsh language, stating, "I said, 'Bitch get the f--- out my face, why are you in my face? Why are you recording me? Ain't you supposed to be security?'" Yet she insisted the altercation remained strictly verbal. The rapper also denied spitting on Ellis or using racial slurs, as alleged in the lawsuit. According to TODAY, Cardi B testified that she could not have caused the scratch on Ellis’s face, noting that her acrylic nails at the time were "coffin-shaped" and "weren’t sharp."
Ellis, for her part, has painted a very different picture. In her testimony, she described being excited to see Cardi B and greeted her with, "Wow, it's Cardi B." She alleges that the rapper became defensive, accused her of leaking the news of her pregnancy, and then physically attacked her. Ellis claims the incident left her humiliated and traumatized, and that she sought medical and psychological treatment as a result. The lawsuit also alleges that Cardi B used her celebrity status to get Ellis fired and was involved in destroying video surveillance footage of the incident. Cardi B has denied all such claims.
The trial has not only been a legal battleground but also a cultural spectacle. Clips of Cardi B’s testimony—her facial expressions, her quick wit, and her courtroom fashion—have gone viral, with fans and observers flooding social media with commentary. As reported by Times of India and other outlets, the rapper’s ever-changing wigs and outfits have become a talking point in their own right. One day she appeared with long black hair, the next with a blonde wig, and even sported a mushroom-style short cut. When asked by the plaintiff’s attorney about her real hair, Cardi B laughed and replied, “They’re wigs.” The lawyer, caught off guard, responded, “Okay. Sorry, I didn’t know that. It’s a good wig today, then.”
The trial has drawn inevitable comparisons to other high-profile celebrity court cases, with some social media users calling Cardi B the most entertaining celebrity on the witness stand since Gwyneth Paltrow’s 2023 trial. The public’s fascination has been further fueled by the rapper’s ongoing promotion of her upcoming album, Am I The Drama, set for release on September 19, 2025. Despite the legal turmoil, Cardi B has continued to engage with her fans and maintain her trademark confidence.
Testimony from other witnesses has added further context. Tierra Malcolm, the receptionist at the obstetrician’s office, testified that she intervened to break up the argument but did not witness any physical fighting. She later noticed a scratch on her own face, which she believed came from Ellis during the commotion, as she had her back to Cardi B at the time. Judge Ian C. Fusselman, presiding over the case, has allowed for a fair amount of levity in the courtroom, at one point reassuring a witness nervous about swearing, "We’ve heard just about everything so far, so it’s OK."
As of August 31, 2025, the trial remains ongoing, with proceedings expected to resume and potentially conclude in the coming week. Both sides have presented starkly different accounts of the 2018 encounter, leaving the outcome uncertain. For Cardi B, the case represents more than just a legal battle—it’s a test of her public image, her privacy, and, perhaps most of all, her resilience in the face of relentless scrutiny.
With the world watching and the stakes high, the trial promises further drama, revelations, and, no doubt, more viral moments before the final verdict is delivered.
