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Cardi B, whose legal name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, is currently at the center of a civil trial stemming from a 2018 incident at a Beverly Hills medical building. She is accused of verbally and physically assaulting a security guard during what was meant to be a routine medical visit.
The lawsuit, filed by security guard Emani Ellis, claims that Cardi B scratched her face with long fingernails, spat on her, and hurled body-shaming and racially charged insults. Ellis has testified that the altercation left her with facial injuries severe enough to require plastic surgery.
According to courtroom testimony, the incident unfolded after Ellis recognized the rapper in the building. The recognition allegedly prompted Cardi B to confront her, demanding to know why she was telling people she had seen her. Ellis claims that the confrontation escalated into both physical and verbal abuse.
Taking the witness stand, Cardi B strongly denied the accusations. She insisted that no physical contact ever occurred, characterizing the encounter as purely verbal. “It was a verbal incident. She didn’t hit me, I didn’t hit her. There was no touching,” Cardi B testified. The rapper said she felt provoked by Ellis, whom she believed was attempting to record her during a private and sensitive appointment. Cardi B also pushed back against descriptions of her nails, saying they were short and rounded at the time, not the sharp, elongated claws described in the lawsuit.
Her defense team has worked to cast doubt on Ellis’s credibility, pointing to inconsistencies in her statements over time. They argue that Ellis has exaggerated details of the incident, and that the absence of video or corroborating physical evidence raises serious questions about the validity of the claims.
Beyond the testimony, Cardi B’s courtroom appearance drew viral attention online. Her pixie-cut wig and tailored black outfit sparked a wave of memes, with social media users comparing her look to characters from pop culture. The lighthearted reaction, however, has done little to overshadow the serious allegations at the heart of the case.
Cardi B faces multiple civil counts, including assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and false imprisonment. While the case does not carry criminal charges, the outcome could have significant financial consequences for the rapper if the jury rules in favor of Ellis.