The ongoing trial involving Cardi B took a dramatic—and unexpectedly humorous—turn this week. The rapper strongly denied claims that she assaulted a security guard during an altercation outside her doctor’s office back in 2018, insisting she never laid a hand on the woman.
On Wednesday, Cardi took the stand and addressed accusations that she had scratched the guard’s face with her acrylic nails and spat on her during the incident. “She couldn’t have gotten a scratch from me because I never touched her,” Cardi firmly told the court.
Cardi B’s Emotional Testimony
During questioning from the plaintiff’s attorney, Ron Rosen Janfaza, Cardi admitted she was upset that day. “Yes, I was angry—because I was pregnant!” she explained. She recalled that tensions escalated to the point where the two women stood chest-to-chest, but stressed that the confrontation never became physical. “She was about to touch me, but she didn’t,” Cardi clarified.
Back in early 2018, the award-winning rapper was in Los Angeles for promotions during the NBA All-Star festivities. At the time, she was four months into her pregnancy with Offset’s child, a secret she had only revealed to her inner circle, keeping it away from both the public and her family.
The Dispute with the Security Guard
According to Cardi, the building’s security guard, Emani Ellis, followed her to a medical appointment and appeared to be recording her on the phone. Cardi testified that she was worried Ellis might expose her pregnancy before she was ready to announce it. “I asked her, ‘Why are you recording?’ and she said, ‘Oh my bad,’ and kind of apologized,” Cardi recalled.
Cardi also emphasized the physical differences between herself and Ellis, saying the guard looked “security-heavy” and more physically imposing.
Privacy, Pregnancy, and Public Scrutiny
Under questioning from her own legal team, Cardi opened up about why she kept her pregnancy private at the time. “I was just so worried about what everybody was going to say or think,” she said. “I felt like I was letting people down.” She added that she has always valued privacy when it comes to medical matters, describing pregnancy as “something sacred that belongs to you.”
Acrylic Nails Debate
One of the lighter moments in court centered on Cardi’s long, rhinestone-covered nails, which Ellis claims caused the alleged facial injury. Cardi explained that the nails were “coffin-shaped” and blunt, not sharp enough to inflict cuts.
Ellis’s Lawsuit for $24 Million
Ellis previously testified that the confrontation left her scarred—physically and emotionally. She said the incident forced her to undergo cosmetic surgery, led to the loss of her job, and left her traumatized. Though Ellis did not state a specific damages total in her lawsuit, Cardi testified that the demand is $24 million.
Memes Take Over Social Media
While the trial is serious, Cardi’s expressive testimony became an internet sensation. Clips of her animated facial reactions, witty responses, and dramatic courtroom delivery quickly went viral, with fans calling the proceedings “a comedy show in disguise.Online audiences quickly turned her fiery testimony into entertainment, flooding social media with memes that highlighted how effortlessly Cardi’s larger-than-life persona can steal the spotlight—even in a courtroom.
The proceedings are taking place in a modest courthouse in Alhambra, a city just outside Los Angeles—an unlikely setting for a trial involving a global superstar.Proceedings will resume next week, with closing arguments expected soon.
