Cardi B was found not liable in the civil lawsuit brought forth by security guard Emani Ellis, who accused the rapper of assault in 2018.
On Tuesday, September 2, Cardi B (real name Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar) was cleared of assault and battery charges in the civil case against her.
“I want to thank my lawyers,” Cardi, 32, said during a press conference after the verdict was read in court, via TMZ. She thanked her fans and the jurors as well as “everybody at home supporting me.”
The musician once again claimed her innocence outside the courthouse, saying, “I did not touch that woman.”
She then issued a warning for future people who might be thinking of suing her. “This time around, I’m going to be nice,” Cardi said. “The next person to try and do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to countersue and I’m going to make you pay.”
Ellis sued Cardi in 2020, claiming the rapper assaulted her outside of a Beverly Hills medical office in 2018.
Ellis alleged that Cardi, who was then four months pregnant with her first baby, cut her face with her fingernail, used racial slurs and spit on her face during the alleged incident. (Cardi shares daughters Kulture and Blossom, born in 2018 and 2024, respectively, and son Wave, born in 2021, with ex-husband Offset.)
In the lawsuit, Ellis accused Cardi of assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and false imprisonment following the incident. She also claimed that Cardi “used her celebrity status” to get Ellis fired from her job.
The “Drip” singer denied assaulting Ellis and claimed they only had a verbal altercation.
Last month, Cardi testified in the trial against her, accusing Ellis of being the instigator in their altercation. The musician alleged that Ellis followed her down the hallways at the doctor’s office and then tried to record her.
Cardi claimed during her August 26 testimony that she and Ellis were standing “chest to chest” and that she yelled, “Bitch, get the f*** out of my face.”
While she admitted to screaming at the security guard, Cardi denied the pair’s interaction ever turned physical.
Source: CNN.com
Image: RollingStone.com
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