Nairobi, September 3- A Los Angeles jury has cleared Cardi B of all charges in a high-profile civil lawsuit accusing her of attacking a security guard during a 2018 incident.
The Grammy-winning rapper, who was facing a $24 million (Ksh3 billion) claim, was accused of scratching the guard’s face with a long fingernail, spitting on her, and using racist and fatphobic slurs outside a private medical clinic.
After about an hour of deliberation, the jury ruled in Cardi’s favor, dismissing all five claims—assault, battery, negligence, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The case had been filed by Emani Ellis, a former guard at the OB-GYN clinic where Cardi, then four months pregnant, had gone for an appointment. Ellis insisted her lawsuit was about “accountability” rather than money.
Cardi, whose real name is Belcalis Almánzar, denied ever touching Ellis but admitted to shouting at her, saying the guard had invaded her privacy by filming her without consent and refusing to give her space.
“I didn’t lay my hands on that girl,” Cardi said after the verdict, warning she would countersue anyone bringing “frivolous lawsuits” in the future.
Medical staff at the clinic backed Cardi’s account during the trial, which also made headlines for lighter moments, such as Cardi explaining wigs in court.
With the jury’s decision, Cardi emerges unapologetic and victorious, closing the chapter on a case that drew widespread public attention.
