Grammy-winning rapper Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar Cephus, popularly known as Cardi B, has been vindicated in a $24 million civil lawsuit after a Los Angeles jury unanimously sided with her on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
The case was initiated by former security guard Emani Ellis, who alleged that during a 2018 encounter outside a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s office, Cardi B—then pregnant—scratched her face, spat on her, and hurled racial slurs.
Testifying last week, the Bronx-born rapper firmly denied any physical altercation, stressing that the incident was verbal only. She explained that her anger came from being secretly recorded during what she considered a private medical appointment.
Her legal team’s position was strengthened by witnesses, including the clinic’s receptionist and doctor, who both told the court they never saw any assault take place.
After less than an hour of deliberation, jurors returned a unanimous verdict clearing Cardi B of all claims. Speaking outside the courthouse, she expressed relief and stood firm on her innocence:
“Even if I’m on my deathbed, I will say it never happened. I will never admit to something I did not do,” she told reporters.
