A Los Angeles judge has rejected security guard Emani Ellis’s attempt to secure a new trial after losing her assault lawsuit against Cardi B. Ellis argued that the rapper intimidated the jury by throwing a pen toward a reporter while speaking to the press outside the court.
Ellis alleged that in 2018, during a private medical appointment intended to conceal her pregnancy, Cardi B became irritated when she believed Ellis was recording her. A verbal confrontation followed. Ellis claimed the rapper struck her, scratching her cheek with a three-inch nail and leaving her traumatised. Cardi B denied any physical assault or spitting, insisting the dispute was strictly verbal.
The jury quickly ruled in the rapper’s favour. After the defeat, Ellis sought a new trial, but Cardi’s lawyers dismissed her claims as baseless. Judge Ian C. Fusselman upheld the original verdict, stating that a pen-throwing incident could not reasonably be seen as influencing jurors.
Separately, Cardi B’s legal team requested disciplinary action against Ellis’s lawyer, Rosen Janfaza, for asking inappropriate questions about alleged gang affiliations during testimony. The judge is expected to deliver a ruling on that matter later.
Videos of Cardi B’s testimony gained widespread traction online, sparking discussion about the lawyer’s comments on her wigs, weight and nails. Many criticised the questioning as misogynistic and racially loaded.
Cardi B released her album Am I The Drama? earlier this year, featuring artists such as Janet Jackson, Kehlani and Selena Gomez. Before the album’s release, she promoted it through unconventional means, including recording public service messages for the New York City subway.
AJ