The win adds relief for Cardi amid her ongoing divorce battle and other lawsuits, reinforcing her image as both unpredictable and unapologetically outspoken.

 

Cardi B in white.

 

Cardi B has once again found herself at the center of a legal firestorm — and walked out victorious.

On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, a Los Angeles jury cleared the 32-year-old rapper of all liability in a \$24 million civil assault and battery lawsuit brought by former security guard Emani Ellis, ending a five-year legal saga that dates back to an alleged altercation at a Beverly Hills doctor’s office in 2018.

The unanimous verdict came after just hours of deliberation, a decision that left Cardi smiling as she exited the courthouse. But the drama didn’t end at the courtroom doors.

Moments later, she was filmed hurling a marker at a paparazzo who had pressed her with questions about her estranged husband Offset and rumors of another pregnancy, sparking yet another viral moment for the Bronx-born superstar.

The trial centered on Ellis’ allegations that Cardi B, then pregnant with her first child, Kulture, assaulted her during a heated exchange at her OB-GYN’s office.

Ellis, who was working security at the time, claimed Cardi spit on her, used racial slurs, and even scratched her cheek with a fingernail, causing visible injury.

She sought \$24 million in damages, citing emotional distress and reputational harm. Cardi, who has faced her share of court battles in recent years, denied all claims.

 

Cardi B outside of court in Los Angeles.

 

“I was heavily pregnant,” Cardi testified last week, reminding the jury that Ellis was physically larger than her.

“There was no way I put hands on her. We exchanged words, yes. But it wasn’t physical.” A doctor present at the scene corroborated parts of Cardi’s account, telling the court they did not see the rapper strike Ellis.

Cardi’s defense argued that Ellis overstepped professional boundaries by secretly recording the rapper during her visit — a violation of her privacy. Cardi claimed she felt provoked, admitting the two exchanged verbal barbs but maintaining there was no assault.

Her legal team painted Ellis’ lawsuit as a “money grab,” pointing to the fact it was filed two years later, in 2020, after Cardi’s star power had grown exponentially.

The rapper’s camp wasted no time in celebrating the verdict.

Although her representatives did not immediately issue a formal statement, insiders close to the “WAP” artist said she now plans to countersue Ellis for defamation, hoping to put an end to years of legal disputes tied to the incident.

“Cardi’s been fighting battles in court since her career took off,” one source close to her family said. “But this was the big one. Winning this case is a weight off her shoulders.”

 

Cardi B smiles in white.

 

Still, the day wasn’t without fireworks. Outside the courthouse, as Cardi was flanked by her team and greeted by fans, a paparazzo shouted a question about Offset allegedly spreading pregnancy rumors.

Visibly irritated, Cardi snapped. In a moment captured on multiple cameras, she grabbed a marker from a fan and flung it at the photographer.

“Do you see women asking those type of questions to me?” she scolded, wagging her finger with fury. “Why do you feel as a man, you get to ask me those type of questions? Act like you have some manners. Respect women!”

Her outburst drew cheers from some fans gathered nearby, though others were quick to point out her history of confrontations with the press.

Just last year, Cardi was sued by a woman in Las Vegas after allegedly throwing a microphone into the crowd during a performance — an incident that is still winding its way through the courts.

The pattern of flare-ups has added to her reputation as one of the most outspoken, unfiltered stars in modern hip-hop.

 

Cardi B in a black suit.

 

The verdict also comes amid personal turmoil for Cardi, who filed for divorce from Offset, her husband of seven years and the father of her three children, in July.

The breakup has been messy, with rumors of infidelity and bitter disputes playing out in the tabloids. For many fans, Tuesday’s courtroom victory provided a rare bright spot for the rapper, who has been navigating both public and private battles simultaneously.

Ellis, for her part, left the courtroom stone-faced and offered no immediate comment to the press.

Legal experts note that while she may have the option to appeal, the jury’s unanimous decision makes overturning the verdict unlikely. “This case was always going to be tough for Ellis,” one Los Angeles attorney observed.

“The alleged incident happened seven years ago, with little physical evidence, and the testimony didn’t back her claims. The jury saw through it.”

 

Cardi B in a black polka dot outfit.

 

For Cardi, the verdict is not just a legal win but also a vindication of her often controversial image. Since bursting onto the scene with “Bodak Yellow” in 2017, she has been a lightning rod for criticism, with detractors questioning her authenticity and behavior.

Yet her rawness and refusal to back down from confrontation have also been part of what made her beloved by millions.

“Cardi’s brand has always been honesty and attitude,” said a music industry insider. “She says what she feels, she acts on impulse, and people either love her or hate her for it. But she wins — in music, in business, and now in court.”

As she climbed into her waiting SUV outside the courthouse, still fuming from her spat with the paparazzo, one fan shouted, “We love you, Cardi!” The rapper cracked a smile, even as the photographer she’d just scolded yelled back, “I still love you, Cardi!”

It was a fitting end to a chaotic day: vindicated in court, fiery in public, and as unpredictable as ever. For Cardi B, the victory may close one chapter, but given her history, it’s unlikely to be the last time she makes headlines for both her triumphs and her temper.