Cardi B is vowing to take action against the next person who brings a “frivolous” lawsuit against her, after winning a civil suit against a California security guard.
A Los Angeles County jury cleared the “I Like It” rapper of all allegations on Tuesday, Sept. 2, after she was sued by the female security guard for $24 million.
The jury handed down its verdict following an hour of deliberations at Alhambra Superior Court, and rejected all claims made by plaintiff Emani Ellis, who said the then-pregnant rapper assaulted her during a dispute at a medical office in Beverly Hills.
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Ellis sued the Grammy-winning rapper, born Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar, for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and false imprisonment.
The former security guard, who is Black, claimed the rapper shouted racial slurs at her, spat on her, and used her long fingernails to cut her face during a confrontation at a Beverly Hills OB-GYN office on Feb. 24, 2018.
Ellis filed suit against the rapper in February 2020.
But in court testimony, Cardi B countered that Ellis instigated the dispute.
The “Bodak Yellow” rapper told the court Ellis was trying to record her with her phone as she entered the building while visibly pregnant, which the rapper had not yet revealed to the public.
In frank and sometimes raw testimony, Cardi B described Ellis as heavyset.
“I was pregnant. I couldn’t protect myself if I wanted to, she’s like twice my size,” the rapper told the court.
Asked why she became upset when approached by Ellis, the rapper said: “I’m pregnant and this girl is about to beat my ass.”
After the verdict was read Tuesday, a triumphant Cardi B spoke to reporters outside court.
“First things first, I want to thank my lawyers. I want to thank the jurors, I want to thank the judge, I want to thank the respectful press. I really, really appreciate that,” she said.
Cardi B said she missed her children’s first day of school today because of the trial, and she maintained that she never assaulted Ellis.
“I swear to God, I will say it on my death bed, I did not touch that woman. I did not touch that girl,” she said.
She then had a warning for the next person who files a lawsuit against her.
“With that being said, this time around I’m going to be nice,” she stated. “The next person that tries to do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to countersue and I’m going to make you pay, because this is not OK.”
“I think people have this misinterpretation of celebrities,” she added. “I work hard for my money, for my kids and the people I take care of. So don’t you ever think that you’re going to sue me and I’m going to settle and just give you money because it’s not going to happen.”
Despite everything that happened, she urged her fans to leave Ellis alone on social media.
“Don’t go bother her, don’t be talking about her,” she said. “Let’s just put this behind.”
ABC7 Los Angeles recorded the rapper’s news conference. You can watch it in its entirety here.
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