In a recent courtroom drama, rapper Cardi B vehemently denied allegations of physically assaulting a security guard during a confrontation back in February 2018. The guard, Emani Ellis, claims she was cut by Cardi's fingernail and spat on outside an obstetrician's office. Cardi countered these accusations in a Los Angeles County court, stating, "She couldn't get a scratch from me because I didn't touch her," as reported by ABC7. The "Bodak Yellow" hitmaker admitted to being irate, justifiably attributing her anger to being pregnant and fearing a potential physical threat from Ellis.
The altercation seemed to have escalated quickly with both parties getting heated amid the argument. Cardi, who feared that Ellis might disclose her then-unpublicized pregnancy, said that despite the intensity, the encounter remained non-violent. "She was going to touch me, but she didn't get to touch me," Cardi professed, as described by The Guardian. Ellis lost her job over the incident and is seeking damages for medical expenses, emotional and physical suffering, as well as lost wages, totaling $24 million, which Cardi disclosed during the trial.
Testimonies have painted both similar and contrasting pictures of the event. Tierra Malcolm, the receptionist at the doctor’s office, seemingly supported Cardi's version, noting she didn't witness any physical altercation. Malcolm's testimony, which added a lighter moment in court when the judge allowed the use of profanity, pointed to hearing a disturbance outside but observing no physical fight. Nevertheless, she noticed a scratch on her own face, which she assumed came from Ellis. Emani Ellis meanwhile, stood by her accusations that Cardi's nail and actions caused her both humiliation and a scar that necessitated cosmetic surgery.
The incident continues to unravel as the trial was interrupted for the week and is expected to resume and conclude in the following week. Taking place in Alhambra, a locality where celebrity trials are a rarity, the case has brought to light Cardi's desire to maintain her privacy, especially regarding medical matters. "Especially something so sacred as a pregnancy. It’s yours," Cardi emphasized in court, stressing the importance of personal boundaries. Amidst the legal proceedings, the physical attributes of Cardi's acrylic nails also became a focal point of the testimonies, Cardi defending the coffin-shaped, non-sharp nails, against the allegation that they had caused Ellis' injury.
