Cardi B, known for her chart-topping hits and no-holds-barred personality, recently took the stand in a civil trial that has everyone talking. The case stems from a 2020 lawsuit. A security guard claims the rapper attacked her years ago. Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, has been clear: she says she did nothing wrong. She suggests the person suing her is simply looking for a big payday.
The incident at the center of this legal drama happened back in 2018. Cardi, then 32, was four months pregnant. She was heading to a doctor’s appointment when things allegedly went sideways. At that time, she hadn’t even told the world she was expecting her first child. She now has a daughter, Kulture, born in 2018, and two younger children with her ex-husband Offset, born in 2021 and 2024. Cardi argues the security guard crossed a line by trying to film her. Her comments during her recent court appearance have certainly gotten a lot of attention online.
The Charges and Claims
The lawsuit was filed in 2020 by security guard Emani Ellis. She accuses Cardi B of assaulting her in a Beverly Hills hallway outside a medical office. Ellis claims Cardi scratched her face with a nail, spit on her, and even used racial slurs during their argument. The whole dispute supposedly started because Cardi believed Ellis was recording her on a phone.
Ellis’s lawsuit lists several serious accusations against Cardi. These include battery, assault, causing severe emotional distress, negligence, and false imprisonment. On top of that, Ellis alleges Cardi used her fame to get her fired from her job. Ellis also claims the rapper played a part in getting rid of surveillance video that might show what happened. Court documents, which were shared by Today.com, reveal that Ellis has needed “psychological and medical treatment” because of the incident. Cardi, however, strongly denies these claims. She insists they only had a verbal fight and that things never turned physical.
Cardi B’s Story in Court
Cardi B shared her side of the story on August 26, 2025. According to videos circulating from her testimony, she said Ellis was the one who started it all. Cardi explained that the guard followed her down a hallway when she arrived for her doctor’s visit. The artist says she confronted Ellis after noticing the guard seemed to be trying to secretly record her. She asked why Ellis was following her and recording. Ellis reportedly replied, “Because I can.” Cardi’s response was quick: “No, you can’t.”
During further questioning, Cardi admitted they were “chest to chest” and she yelled, “Bitch, get out of my face.” She stressed that while they were “literally screaming at each other,” it “did not get physical at all.” She clarified that she never touched Ellis.
Emani Ellis, the former security guard, told a different tale when she testified on August 25, 2025. She said she was excited to see Cardi B step out of an elevator at the office. Ellis claims she said, “Wow, it’s Cardi B” right before the situation went south. CourtTV reported that Ellis tried to reassure Cardi that she wouldn’t tell anyone about her visit.
Wigs and Wardrobe Go Viral
Cardi B’s testimony on August 26, 2025, sparked unexpected chatter online about her hair. During cross-examination, a lawyer asked if her hair was “black, blonde, or another color” at the time of the incident. The lawyer then pointed out, “Yesterday you had short black hair. Today it’s long and blonde. Which one is your real hair? Or are both of them?” Cardi chuckled before setting the record straight: “They’re wigs.” The lawyer playfully responded, “Sorry, I didn’t know. So, today is a good wig.”
Fans weren’t just talking about her hair. Her court outfits also made headlines. On that particular day, she arrived wearing a fluffy gray coat and matching tweed pants, completing her look with a Louis Vuitton bag. The very next day, she stepped out in a sleek white suit, featuring a blazer with rounded shoulders and wide-leg trousers.
The trial is set to continue on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.