Cardi B took the stand in a Los Angeles civil trial on Tuesday to testify about a 2018 confrontation with a former security guard.
The rapper, 32, whose legal name is Belcalis Almánzar, recounted the incident involving Emani Ellis, a security guard who alleges she was assaulted while on duty at a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s office.
Ellis filed suit in 2020, claiming Cardi B struck her, spat on her, and cut her face with a fingernail during the altercation. She also alleged the performer verbally abused her.
Testifying under oath, Cardi B stated that the dispute arose while she was four months pregnant and walking through the medical office, when Ellis allegedly began following her and recording her on a cellphone.
On the stand, Cardi B denied that the confrontation with Ellis turned physical but acknowledged that she called the guard a “b***h” during the exchange.
The Grammy winner, who is now a mother of three, appeared in court wearing a two-piece grey tweed suit with fringe detailing and styled blonde curls. Her account differed sharply from Ellis’ testimony the previous day. Ellis alleged that Cardi swung at her, spat on her, and cut her cheek with a fingernail. She further accused the rapper of body-shaming her during the encounter.
Questioned directly on whether she attempted to strike Ellis, Cardi responded, “No,” insisting the pair had a “verbal fight” but that “it didn’t get physical at all.”
Cardi testified that she was leaving her obstetrician’s office when she noticed Ellis on the phone, allegedly saying, “Oh my God, y’all. Cardi B is here.” The rapper said she tried to leave quickly but felt the guard following her.
“I turned around again and asked, ‘Why are you following me?’” Cardi recalled. “She said, ‘Cause I can.’” Cardi said she challenged the guard, reminding her of her security role, and accused her of invading her privacy as the argument escalated.
Cardi B testified that the confrontation escalated to the point where she and Ellis were “chest to chest.” Laughing as she recalled the moment, the rapper said, “I keep telling her, like, you need to back up. I’m thinking to myself, this girl is big. She’s big.”
She admitted the exchange grew heated, with both women arguing and cursing. “I did call her the B word,” Cardi acknowledged. “I did say, ‘b*h, get the fk out of my face. You’re in my face. You’re screaming in my face.’”
According to Cardi, Ellis repeatedly told her, “You’re gonna leave my building,” to which she responded that she had a right to be there for her doctor’s appointment. “I’m not leaving. How are you telling me to leave? I came to see a doctor. You’re following me, you’re recording me. I’m just trying to check my cat. You’re recording me,” she recounted.
Cardi testified that a receptionist eventually intervened, at which point Ellis accused her of hitting her. “I’m like, I did not hit her,” Cardi said. “I’m looking at her like, girl, I can’t even hit you if I want to—you’re bigger than me.”
She added that her doctor came out shortly after and asked her to step into his office, which she did. Cardi concluded her testimony by stating that, while she felt Ellis was recording her, she never actually saw evidence of a video.#newsafro_
