A Los Angeles jury has ruled in favor of Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B, legally known as Belcalis Almánzar, in a civil lawsuit that accused her of ass
A Los Angeles jury has ruled in favor of Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B, legally known as Belcalis Almánzar, in a civil lawsuit that accused her of assault and battery during an altercation at a nightclub in 2018.
The jury found the rapper not liable, effectively ending a high-profile legal battle that spanned several weeks and attracted widespread media and public attention.
Background
The case was brought by Emani Ellis, who claimed that Cardi B assaulted her during a confrontation at a Los Angeles club over six years ago.
Ellis sought $24 million in damages, alleging that the incident caused her both physical and psychological harm, and had negatively impacted her professional life.
According to Ellis, the rapper struck and pushed her during the heated exchange.
During the trial, the plaintiff presented testimony from witnesses including a receptionist and medical personnel, who detailed the injuries Ellis reportedly sustained and the treatment she received in the aftermath.
Cardi B’s Defense
Cardi B consistently denied the allegations from the outset, taking the stand in her own defense.
Her legal team worked to discredit Ellis’s account, pointing to inconsistencies in witness statements and questioning the reliability of medical records used to support the plaintiff’s claims.
Throughout the trial, the defence emphasized the lack of clear evidence and inconsistencies in the timeline provided by Ellis.
Cardi B was visibly involved in the proceedings, challenging the plaintiff’s version of events and maintaining her innocence.
Civil lawsuits, unlike criminal trials, operate under a “preponderance of the evidence” standard, requiring jurors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the alleged events occurred.
In this case, the jury found that the evidence did not meet that threshold.
Verdict And Reaction
Following the verdict, Cardi B addressed the media outside the courthouse, expressing gratitude to her legal team, the jury, and her supporters.
However, she also underscored the personal toll the case had taken.
“I missed my kids’ first day of school today. I missed their last week of school yesterday because of this,” she told reporters. Visibly emotional, the rapper reiterated her denial: “Even if I’m on my deathbed, I will say it—I did not touch that woman.”
Cardi B also took the opportunity to warn against what she called “frivolous” lawsuits.
“The next person to try to do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to countersue, and I’m going to make you pay,” she said firmly. “Don’t ever think that I’m just going to give you my money that I work hard for.”
Despite the emotional strain, she urged her fans to refrain from harassing the plaintiff or her family online, calling for restraint and closure.
“I hope that this is something that I leave behind, that she leaves behind. Don’t go bother her,” she said.
Public And Media Scrutiny
The trial, which featured a mix of formal testimony and viral moments, became a media spectacle.
Social media buzzed with real-time updates about everything from courtroom statements to Cardi B’s fashion choices. At one point, a clip of the rapper appearing to throw a pen at a reporter who questioned her about pregnancy rumors outside the courthouse circulated widely online, adding fuel to an already high-profile trial.
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