Cardi B Cleared in Security Guard Assault Lawsuit After Fiery Court Testimony
Cardi B recently testified in court as part of a civil litigation originating from a 2020 lawsuit, in which a security guard accused the musician of assault.
Cardi (whose birth name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar) has refuted all accusations, asserting that the plaintiff—who is seeking $24 million—is merely pursuing a financial payoff.
The rapper, then 32, was four months into her pregnancy at the time of the reported event, which occurred while she was en route to a medical appointment for her gestation. At that point, she had not yet publicly announced her first pregnancy. (The artist shares daughter Kulture, along with two younger children, with ex-husband Offset, born in 2018, 2021, and 2024, respectively.)
Cardi has alleged that the security guard infringed upon her privacy by attempting to film her. Her comments during her court appearance regarding the lead-up to the confrontation and the subsequent lawsuit have been widely circulated online.
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Us Weekly is providing a detailed account of the court case and the ongoing proceedings:
What Led to Cardi B Being Sued?
Cardi faced a lawsuit in 2020 from a security guard, Emani Ellis, who claims the music artist attacked her in a hallway outside a Beverly Hills medical office in 2018, alleging that Cardi cut her face with a fingernail, spat on her, and uttered racial slurs during the dispute.
A confrontation between the two reportedly erupted because Cardi believed Ellis was recording her on a cell phone.
Ellis accused Cardi of assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and false imprisonment following the incident. Furthermore, Ellis claims the lyricist “leveraged her celebrity status” to get her terminated from her employment and allegedly had a hand in the destruction of video surveillance footage.
As a result of the incident, Ellis has sought “psychological and medical treatment,” according to court documents from the 2020 lawsuit obtained by Today.com.
Cardi, however, has vigorously refuted Ellis’s assertions, alleging that she only engaged in a verbal disagreement with the security official.
Cardi B's Testimony: What Were Her Statements in Court?
According to social media clips of Cardi's testimony on August 26, 2025, Ellis initiated the confrontation, claiming she trailed her down a hallway upon her arrival at the doctor's office for an appointment.
The performer confronted the security guard after noticing that Ellis appeared to be attempting to record her during the visit, questioning why she was following her and trying to capture footage surreptitiously, to which Ellis reportedly responded, “Because I can,” prompting Cardi to retort, “No, you can't.”
During cross-examination, Cardi asserted they were standing “chest to chest” and she shouted, “B, get the f out of my face.”
“We're literally screaming at each other,” Cardi further alleged, maintaining it never escalated beyond that point. “I didn't touch her. It was like a verbal fight, but it didn't get physical at all.”
The former security guard presented a different account, testifying in court on August 25, 2025, that she was excited after seeing Cardi exit an elevator at the office, and exclaimed, “Wow, it's Cardi B” before events took a negative turn.
Ellis claimed that she attempted to assure Cardi that she wasn't disclosing details about her visit, as reported by CourtTV.
Cardi B's Courtroom Attire and Wigs Garnered Viral Attention During the Proceedings
Cardi's hair became a point of discussion during her cross-examination on August 26, 2025, when the lawyer inquired if she had “black hair, blonde hair or different color hair” when the incident transpired. “Yesterday you had black hair, short hair. Today it’s blonde and long. Which one is your real hair? Or are they both real?” he probed.
She chuckled at the question before clarifying, stating, “They're wigs.”
“Sorry, I didn’t know that. It’s a good wig today, then,” the lawyer responded.
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Fans couldn’t help but praise Cardi's stylish ensemble when she arrived at court that day, sporting a gray fuzzy coat and coordinating tweed pants, complemented by a Louis Vuitton handbag.
The following day, she opted for a white suit comprising a structured blazer with rounded shoulders paired with wide-leg trousers.
Her trial concluded on September 2, 2025.
What Was the Outcome of Cardi B's Case?
Cardi was found not liable and acquitted of the assault and battery charges filed against her on September 2, 2025.
“I want to thank my lawyers,” Cardi, 32, stated during a press conference after the verdict was delivered in court, according to TMZ, extending gratitude to her fans, the jurors, and “everybody at home supporting me.”
Cardi added that while “this time” she would be “nice,” she issued a warning to anyone considering suing her in the future. “The next person to try and do a frivolous lawsuit against me I’m going to countersuit and I’m going to make you pay,” she declared during a September 2 press conference.
