Grammy-winning rapper Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar Cephus, widely known as Cardi B, has been exonerated of all assault claims in a $24 million civil lawsuit after a Los Angeles jury delivered a decisive verdict on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
The lawsuit, brought by former security guard Emani Ellis, arose from an alleged 2018 incident outside a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s office.
Ellis, who was employed as a guard at the building, claimed that Cardi B, who was pregnant at the time, scratched her face with her fingernails, spat on her, and directed racial slurs toward her.
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During her testimony last week, Cardi B strongly refuted the allegations, insisting that the encounter was purely verbal.
The rapper explained that her frustration stemmed from being recorded without her consent during a private medical visit.
Her defense was supported by witness accounts, including those of a receptionist and a doctor at the clinic, who told the jury they observed no physical assault.
After deliberating for less than an hour, the jury ruled unanimously in Cardi B’s favor, clearing her of all allegations. Outside the courthouse, she expressed relief and reaffirmed her position against baseless claims.
“Even if I’m on my deathbed, I will say it never happened. I will never admit to something I did not do” She told reporters.
