Posted at 7:28 AM, August 27, 2025
and last updated 7:30 AM, August 27, 2025
LOS ANGELES (Court TV) — Rapper Cardi B took the stand as she fights a lawsuit claiming that she attacked a security guard.
Cardi B testifies in her civil assault trial Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. (Court TV)
Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, is accused of assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and false imprisonment in a lawsuit that stems from a 2018 incident.
MORE | Cardi B testifies in her civil assault trial
On February 24, 2018, Cardi B went to a private appointment with her obstetrician at a doctor’s office in Beverly Hills. At the time, the rapper was approximately four months pregnant with her first child and was keeping the news of her pregnancy private and out of the tabloids.
In 2020, Emani Ellis, a security guard who was working in the building housing the doctor’s office, filed a lawsuit claiming that Cardi B attacked her, unprovoked, during that visit. In her suit, Ellis claimed that Cardi B “violently, unlawfully, intentionally, suddenly and maliciously” hit her head, face and body, leaving her with physical and emotional damages. Ellis also claims that Cardi B spat on her and used multiple profanities and racial slurs. Cardi B’s security guard, identified as “Doe 1” in the lawsuit, is also accused of attacking Ellis.
Ellis’ lawsuit additionally accuses Cardi B of working with unnamed people to have all recorded footage of the incident erased.
Plaintiff Emani Ellis testifies in the civil assault trial against Cardi B. (Court TV)
In a filing responding to the lawsuit, Cardi B claimed Ellis was on her personal phone and loudly announced she had just seen the rapper and appeared to be trying to record video of her. Cardi B said she asked Ellis not to say anything to anyone, but “rather than take steps to deescalate the situation, Plaintiff aggressively approached [Cardi B] and engaged her in a profanity-laced screaming match.”
Cardi B’s attorneys maintain there was no physical contact between the two women during the incident, which they estimate to have lasted between 60 and 90 seconds.
Ellis’ suit seeks medical expenses, damages for loss of past and future earnings, punitive damages and a civil penalty of $25,000.
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 3 – 8/27/25
DAY 2 – 8/26/25
LIVESTREAM: Cardi B Assault Trial – Day 2 | Emani Ellis v. Belcalis Almánzar
Cardi B, on the stand, denied any physical contact with Emani Ellis; described the incident as strictly verbal.
WATCH: No Hands, Just Words: Cardi B Testifies, Fires Back at Assault Claims
Described appearance: hoodie, wig, one-inch rounded acrylic nails (not sharp).
Recalled Ellis waiting outside the elevator and following Cardi, allegedly filming her on her phone.
Cardi questioned Ellis about recording; said she felt her privacy was invaded.
Claimed heated words were exchanged but insisted neither party touched the other.
Denied spitting, racial slurs, or swinging at Ellis.
Explained she didn’t want her security guard involved in medical matters; guard remained in the lobby.
Said receptionist and doctor witnessed the argument and helped intervene.
WATCH: Cardi B Testifies ‘I Didn’t Touch Her’ in Civil Assault Trial
Cardi repeatedly requested surveillance footage but none was available.
Asserted Ellis was acting aggressively and not as a typical security guard.
Admitted feeling threatened momentarily but the situation quickly diffused.
Maintained nails were not sharp and she avoids styles that could cause injury.
Court was marked by frequent objections over questioning and procedural issues.
MORE: Cardi B testifies in her civil assault trial
Dr. Brent Moelleken (Plastic Surgeon) treated Emani Ellis for scars on her left cheek, allegedly from fingernail scratches.
First examined Ellis in Nov. 2022, nearly 4 years after the incident.
Saw three vertical, parallel marks; described them as highly suggestive of fingernail injury.
Performed two procedures to reduce scarring and hypersensitivity, with some improvement.
Noted scarring still present; future microneedling might help further.
Charges for Ellis’s treatments totaled $17,500 (paid on a lien basis depending on case outcome).
Emphasized that photographs may not fully show the scars; best assessed in-person.
Confirmed Ellis reported continuing pain and sensitivity in affected area.
Leanne Shmidt (Ellis’s Mother) testified that Ellis showed more anxiety, depression, and noticeable scar after the alleged incident.
Ellis called her immediately afterward, crying and upset, reporting scratches and spitting.
Mom described Ellis as generally peaceful and compassionate.
Dianne Shmidt (Ellis’s Grandmother) recalled that Ellis called her right after the incident, described being humiliated and crying. Believes Ellis’s account based on seeing the scar herself.
Dr. Nichole McKenzie (Psychologist) saw Ellis for emotional distress after the incident; reported patient’s claims of verbal insult from Cardi B.
No documentation of visible scar in her notes; relied on patient self-reports.
Ellis reported headaches, anxiety, and psychological symptoms post-incident.
Explained that her role was not to verify claims, but to record patient statements and symptoms.
DAY 1 – 8/25/25
LIVESTREAM: Cardi B Assault Trial – Day 1 | Emani Ellis v. Belcalis Almánzar
Attorneys for the Plaintiff and Defense delivered their opening statements.
Plaintiff Emani Ellis’ attorney, Ilan N. Rosen Janfaza, delivered his opening statement.
Argued that Ellis was hurt by Cardi B, experienced trauma, and deserves respect.
Made a case for emotional distress damages, and suggested that emotional distress doctors should testify if relevant.
Cardi B’s defense attorney, Peter J. Anderson, delivered his opening statement.
Challenged emotional distress claims, argued plaintiff changed her story.
Asserted no emotional distress attributable to incident.
Pointed to plaintiff’s alleged damaging admissions.
Questioned authenticity and disclosure of records/witnesses.
Presented Cardi B as loving, private, and unjustly accused.
Plaintiff Emani Ellis, a former security guard, was the first witness to take the stand.
Said she had actually been Cardi B prior to the incident, and even had tickets to one of her concerts, but did not attend after the encounter.
Stated she was doing rounds on February 24, 2018, when she saw Cardi B exit an elevator.
Said “wow, it’s Cardi B” out loud due to excitement.
Claimed Cardi B turned around, allegedly said, “why the fuck are you telling people you seen me?” and accused Ellis of spreading news about her presence.
Ellis said she tried to reassure Cardi B she wasn’t telling anyone, but Cardi B allegedly persisted and put her finger in Ellis’s face, used profanity and insults.
Ellis described Cardi B’s fingernails as 2–3 inches long that day.
Said Cardi B cursed at her, used the n-word and other slurs, called her names, threatened her job, body-shamed her, and mocked her career.
Alleged Cardi B spat on her, took a swing at her, and scratched her left cheek with a fingernail.
Said the incident was traumatizing, and Cardi B never apologized.
At the time, did not intend to sue; did not immediately take photographs of her injury due to emotional distress.
Said career path changed afterward: became a social worker, helping low-income families.
Said she suffers from anxiety, depression, insomnia, and PTSD as a result of the incident.
Sought psychological treatment post-incident.
Ellis previously had no scar on her left cheek; after the incident, sought treatment/advice from doctors, including plastic surgeons and psychologists.
On cross, the defense challenged Ellis’s recollection and consistency; questioned if Ellis used a phone to record Cardi B, which Ellis denied.
Pointed out discrepancy: Ellis said scratch was on cheek, but referred to nose in incident reports and emails.
Pressed Ellis about not using a band-aid, taking a nap after the incident, and lack of initial photographic evidence.
Defense brought up prior car accidents (2021, 2023), previous psychological treatment, and worker’s comp filings.
Asked about the absence of immediate medical reports showing scratches or blows to head/face (only appeared later in lawsuit context).
Ellis saids she apologized to employer after being fired, but then got a better-paying job.
Defense attempted to impeach Ellis using emails and prior deposition testimony regarding sequence of events (spit vs. intervention, nose/cheek confusion).
Jurors asked about the presence of cameras (Ellis said there were none in elevator), and timing of injuries/car accidents.
MORE | Ex-security guard testifies Cardi B cursed at her, spat on her, cut her