A week after for calling her witness-stand interrogation a “debate,” not an “altercation,” the Grammy-winning rapper was handed a resounding victory at her civil trial over claims she physically assaulted a security guard she accused of filming her.
Jurors spent less than an hour deliberating in the closely watched case. Though they only needed nine votes for their civil court verdict, all 12 jurors said they unanimously agreed Cardi did not swing at plaintiff Emani Ellis or scratch the woman’s face during a heated seven years ago.
“I will say it on my deathbed: I did not touch that woman. I did not touch that girl. I didn’t lay my hands on that girl,” Cardi B, born Belcalis Almánzar, said as she exited the courthouse in Alhambra, California, with her lawyers Lisa F. Moore and Peter Anderson. Stopping to take a few photos with fans, Almánzar said she’s “gonna be nice” this time. She asked her supporters not to “bother” Ellis after the verdict. But, she warned, she won’t be so forgiving going forward.
Popular on Rolling Stone
“The next person who tries to do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to counter-sue, and I’m gonna make you pay, because this is not OK,” she said. “I am not that celeb that you sue, and you think it’s going to settle. I’m not gonna settle. Especially when I’m super completely innocent. I know I got a little reputation, but I swear to God, I’m innocent. I swear to God. Like, I’m really innocent for real.”
Almánzar said she missed her kids’ first day of school thanks to the trial, and she’s working overtime on her new album, due out later this month. She said it wasn’t easy waking up each morning at 5:30 to prep for court. She said her forehead is “raw, raw, raw” from the selection of wigs she wore.
“It was tough,” she said of the four-day trial. “I hope that this is something that I leave behind, that she leaves behind,” she said of Ellis.
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Jurors spent less than an hour deliberating in the closely watched case. Though they only needed nine votes for their civil court verdict, all 12 jurors said they unanimously agreed Cardi did not swing at plaintiff Emani Ellis or scratch the woman’s face during a heated seven years ago.
“I will say it on my deathbed: I did not touch that woman. I did not touch that girl. I didn’t lay my hands on that girl,” Cardi B, born Belcalis Almánzar, said as she exited the courthouse in Alhambra, California, with her lawyers Lisa F. Moore and Peter Anderson. Stopping to take a few photos with fans, Almánzar said she’s “gonna be nice” this time. She asked her supporters not to “bother” Ellis after the verdict. But, she warned, she won’t be so forgiving going forward.
Popular on Rolling Stone
“The next person who tries to do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to counter-sue, and I’m gonna make you pay, because this is not OK,” she said. “I am not that celeb that you sue, and you think it’s going to settle. I’m not gonna settle. Especially when I’m super completely innocent. I know I got a little reputation, but I swear to God, I’m innocent. I swear to God. Like, I’m really innocent for real.”
Almánzar said she missed her kids’ first day of school thanks to the trial, and she’s working overtime on her new album, due out later this month. She said it wasn’t easy waking up each morning at 5:30 to prep for court. She said her forehead is “raw, raw, raw” from the selection of wigs she wore.
“It was tough,” she said of the four-day trial. “I hope that this is something that I leave behind, that she leaves behind,” she said of Ellis.

Cardi B Wins at Civil Assault Trial Brought by Security Guard: 'I'm Super Completely Innocent'
Cardi B was found not liable at a civil trial over claims she physically assaulted a security guard.
