Cardi B has been in the spotlight this week after taking the witness stand in Los Angeles to tell a court she did not attack a security guard who is suing her for assault.
The colourful US rapper is accused of cutting Emani Ellis’s cheek with a 3in (7.5cm) fingernail and spitting on her during an altercation outside an doctor’s office in 2018, leaving the guard “deeply traumatised”.
Cardi testified that Ms Ellis invaded her privacy by filming and following her against her will and telling someone on the phone about her appointment for a pregnancy that wasn’t yet public knowledge. There was a “verbal fight”, the star said – but she insisted it “didn’t get physical”.
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During the evidence, various moments from the civil trial have gone viral, as have some of Cardi B’s comments and facial expressions on the stand.
The trial is expected to conclude next week. Here’s a round-up of what has happened so far.
The case revolves around Cardi B’s arrival for an obstetrics appointment, when she was four months pregnant with her first child.
The rapper told the court on Tuesday that when she stepped out of an elevator, Ms Ellis, who was working as a security guard in the building, told someone on the phone that the star was there, then followed her down a hallway.
The performer, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, added that Ms Ellis appeared to record her on her phone and refused to “back up”, before a face-to-face “verbal altercation” ensued.
She admitted shouting an obscenity at Ms Ellis while telling her to “get out of my face”, adding: “We’re literally screaming at each other.”
Her lawyer noted how the star had “feared for her unborn baby” and also accused Ms Ellis of having “changed your story”.
Ms Ellis earlier told the court she said the rapper’s name aloud out of excitement when she saw her, but didn’t tell anyone she was there and didn’t film her.
Ms Ellis claims the rapper accused her of trying to spread news about her being at the doctor’s office, then hurled insults and threats, and attacked her.
A plastic surgeon testified that he had treated Ms Ellis for a “hyper-sensitive” scar on her cheek, “most likely” caused by fingernails, after first examining her in 2022.
The doctor Cardi was visiting on the day of the altercation in 2018 and his receptionist also gave evidence, mostly backing up the rapper’s account by saying they didn’t see her hit Ms Ellis.
Ms Ellis sued the star in 2020 for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress as well as negligence and false imprisonment.
