Cardi B and Stefon Diggs‘ romance may be put to the test amid a police investigation into the NFL star’s conduct.
Criminal charges were filed against the Grammy-winning rapper’s boyfriend and New England Patriots wide receiver in Dedham District Court on Monday, Dec. 29, stemming from an alleged domestic violence incident involving Diggs’ private chef.
Diggs, 32, is facing a felony strangulation or suffocation charge, along with misdemeanor assault, according to online court records reviewed by USA TODAY. The charges stem from an incident in which Diggs allegedly assaulted the unnamed female employee over a paycheck dispute at his Dedham, Massachusetts, residence on Dec. 2, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday and obtained by The Enterprise, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Cardi B, right, and boyfriend Stefon Diggs sit courtside during an NBA match between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 12, 2025.
The chef, who’d been hired July 20 and was supposed to work through the end of the NFL season, claims Diggs “smacked her across the face” and attempted to choke her after previously telling the football player that she was owed a month’s pay, per the complaint. The chef was allegedly sent home for a week in November because Diggs was hosting house guests.
Diggs has since denied the allegations, according to a Tuesday statement from the Patriots. He is currently scheduled to be arraigned in court on Jan. 23.
USA TODAY has reached out to Cardi B’s representatives for comment.
Diggs’ legal troubles come nearly two months after he and Cardi B welcomed their first child together.
Take a look back at Cardi and Diggs’ relationship in the spotlight.
Stefon Diggs legal trouble: Cardi B’s boyfriend facing felony strangulation charge
Cardi B reveals relationship with Stefon Diggs
Cardi B confirmed her relationship with Diggs in a PDA-filled Instagram post in June, which showed the lovebirds cuddling together on a yacht.
The rapper’s romance with Diggs followed a highly publicized and tumultuous breakup with her ex and father of her three children, rapper Offset. The former couple share daughters Kulture and Blossom and son Wave.
Cardi B opens up about ‘supportive’ beau Stefon Diggs
In September, Cardi B opened up about her pregnancy and relationship with Diggs in an interview with “CBS Mornings” host Gayle King.
“I feel like I’m in a good space. I feel very strong. I feel very powerful that I’m doing all this work,” Cardi told King. “But I’m doing all this work while I’m creating a baby, and me and my man, we’re very supportive of each other.”
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ career on the field, red carpet
1 of 29
Cardi B and Stefon Diggs welcome first child
Cardi B and Diggs went from sweethearts to parents when the rapper revealed in a Nov. 13 Instagram post that the couple had welcomed their first child together, a son.
“My life has always been a combination of different chapters and different seasons. My last chapter was the beginning of a new season,” Cardi captioned a video of herself lip synching to her song “Hello.”
“I brought new music and a new album to the world! A new baby into my world, and one more reason to be the best version of me, one more reason to love me more than anything else or anyone else so I can continue giving my babies the love and life they deserve,” she continued. “This next chapter is Me vs. Me! It’s me against all odds, me against everything meant to get in my way.”
Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova, more celebs who welcomed babies in 2025
1 of 34
Baby on board! Celebrities are sharing joyful news that they have grown — or started — their families.
Scroll through for a look at the stars who welcomed babies in 2025, starting with Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, who have welcomed their third child. On Sept. 24, the Fenty Beauty mogul shared a photo of herself cradling a pink-outfitted newborn on Instagram and also revealed the baby’s name.
“Rocki Irish Mayers,” the caption read. “Sept 13 2025 🎀.” Rocki is the couple’s third child, joining sons RZA Athleston Mayers, 3, and Riot Rose, 2.
The baby was born on Nov. 4, just weeks before Diggs’ 32nd birthday. The baby boy is the “WAP” emcee’s fourth child.
Cardi gave a little more insight in her Instagram story when she shared a video of two floral pink strollers and exclaimed, “I just had a boy; I love this stroller!”
Cardi B speaks out after Stefon Diggs backlash
Following online backlash that Cardi B and Diggs reportedly spent the Christmas holiday apart, the outspoken rapper took to social media to address criticism of their family.
“Y’all need to calm down,” Cardi said in an X video on Dec. 29. “Y’all been a little bit too mean. I can’t change [things]; I can’t go back in time. I already had a baby.”
Cardi, who is set to hit the road next year on her Little Miss Drama Tour, said she needs her fans’ support because she’s “already super stressed out.”
“I don’t know what y’all want me to do,” Cardi said. “We can only go forward now.”
Contributing: Chris Bumbaca, Taijuan Moorman and Edward Segarra, USA TODAY; Amelia Stern and Catherine Messier, The Enterprise
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cardi B, Stefon Diggs dating timeline: From Instagram debut to now