Cardi B Wins Assault Trial: Rapper Cleared After Fiery Testimony and Public Showdown

In a decisive conclusion to a highly publicized legal dispute, a jury has cleared Cardi B of all liability in her recent assault trial. The Grammy-winning artist, visibly emotional, received the verdict after less than an hour of jury deliberation. The decision brings an end to the civil suit brought by security guard Emani Ellis, which had cast a shadow over the star for years. The outcome of the Cardi B assault trial confirms she will not have to pay any damages, marking a significant legal victory for the rapper after a case defined by its dramatic and often personal turns.

The Verdict in the Cardi B Assault Trial

The core of the trial revolved around an incident from 2018. Emani Ellis alleged that Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, had assaulted her at a medical office in Beverly Hills. Ellis claimed the rapper spat on her, hit her, and left her with scratches on her face from her long fingernails, which she said required plastic surgery. The lawsuit sought significant compensation for medical bills, lost work, and emotional distress, with Cardi B mentioning on the stand that the figure being sought was an immense $24 million.

Cardi B’s defense offered a powerful counter-narrative. Her legal team argued that at the time of the incident, she was pregnant and attempting to keep it a secret. She was visiting her OB-GYN when, she claims, Ellis began recording her without permission. The defense portrayed her reaction not as an unprovoked assault, but as the defensive response of a vulnerable, expectant mother whose privacy was being aggressively violated. This context was crucial, as it framed her actions as protective rather than malicious.

A Viral Testimony Shakes the Courtroom

Perhaps the most memorable moment of the Cardi B assault trial was her own testimony. When questioned about her emotional state during the 2018 encounter, her response was passionate and went viral online. “Yes, I was angry!” she declared from the witness stand. “Because I’m pregnant! And this girl’s about to beat my a**!” This raw, unfiltered statement resonated widely, offering a humanizing look at the immense pressure she felt. It became a defining clip of the trial, showcasing the high emotional stakes involved and providing a powerful justification for her state of mind that day.

Drama Beyond the Courtroom Walls

The intensity of the trial wasn’t limited to testimony. While proceedings were on a break, a tense scene unfolded outside the Alhambra courthouse. Cardi B was interacting with fans and signing autographs when a man asked her a question about her husband, Offset, and NFL star Stefon Diggs, which she deemed intensely invasive. Her reaction was swift. She tossed a pen she was holding toward the man, her frustration palpable.

“Stop disrespecting me,” she stated firmly, launching into a powerful rebuke. “Why do you feel, as a man, you get to ask me those type of questions? Act like you have some manners. Your momma taught you, respect women.” This public outburst, while separate from the case itself, underscored the themes of privacy and respect that had been central to her defense, revealing the constant scrutiny she faces.

Law vs. “Common Sense” in Closing Arguments

Before the jury began deliberations, the attorneys for both sides made their final appeals. Ellis’s lawyer, Ron Rosen Janfaza, criticized Cardi B’s use of profanity in court, calling it a “disrespect” to the legal process. He urged the jury to side with his client and award her hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. In contrast, Cardi B’s attorney defended her client’s candid language as a genuine reflection of the 2018 event. The defense highlighted perceived inconsistencies in Ellis’s story and asked the jury to “use common sense,” framing the lawsuit as an attempt to capitalize on Cardi B’s fame.

Ultimately, the jury sided with the defense. The conclusion of the Cardi B assault trial absolves the rapper of legal responsibility in this matter. The verdict closes a tumultuous chapter for the artist, one that forced her to defend her actions and character on a very public stage, both inside the courtroom and on the courthouse steps.