Cardi B Breaks Silence on Security Guard Clash, Calls Incident ‘Just Verbal’ Amid Filming Allegations

Los Angeles, CA – August 28, 2025 – Rapper Cardi B took the stand on Wednesday, August 27, in her ongoing civil assault trial, providing her account of a 2018 confrontation with former security guard Emani Ellis at a Beverly Hills medical building. Testifying as a hostile witness, Cardi firmly denied any physical contact, asserting the incident was a brief verbal altercation triggered by Ellis following and recording her during a private doctor’s visit while she was pregnant. The contentious courtroom exchange, marked by frequent objections and judicial interventions, highlighted Cardi’s defense that she was protecting her privacy against an aggressive security guard. The trial, now in its fourth day, continues to probe issues of celebrity privacy, workplace conduct, and conflicting narratives.

Trial Background

The lawsuit centers on an incident on February 24, 2018, at 8920 Wilshire Boulevard, where Cardi B, then approximately four months pregnant with her daughter Kulture, visited her obstetrician’s office. Emani Ellis, a security guard, alleges Cardi verbally assaulted her with profanities and racial slurs, spat on her, and scratched her face, causing a 2 cm scar requiring plastic surgery. Ellis, who was fired after the incident, seeks $24 million for assault, battery, emotional distress, negligence, and false imprisonment. Cardi denies all physical contact, claiming Ellis initiated the conflict by attempting to record her and follow her, breaching her confidentiality during a sensitive medical visit.

Cardi B’s Testimony Highlights

Direct Examination by Rob Rosen

Cardi, questioned by plaintiff’s attorney Rob Rosen, described the encounter as a “verbal altercation” lasting less than a minute. She emphasized, “She didn’t hit me. I didn’t hit her. There was no touch,” rejecting claims of spitting, using racial slurs like the N-word, or taking a swing at Ellis. When pressed on what constitutes an “incident,” Cardi maintained that without physical contact, it wasn’t an incident in her view, though she acknowledged a heated verbal exchange.

Cardi recounted exiting the fifth-floor elevator and hearing Ellis, in a security uniform, say, “Oh my god, y’all, Cardi B is here,” while on the phone. Feeling her privacy was violated, Cardi said she speed-walked toward her doctor’s office, but Ellis followed, holding her phone as if recording. “She had her phone went from here to right here,” Cardi testified, noting Ellis’s admission of “Oh, my bad” when confronted about recording. Cardi repeatedly asked, “Why you recording me? Ain’t you supposed to be security?” as Ellis allegedly continued following her, getting “chest to chest” and blocking her path.

The argument escalated with mutual cursing—Cardi admitted calling Ellis a “bitch” and saying, “You’re in my face”—but she denied physical aggression. She described feeling intimidated by Ellis’s size (Ellis testified to being 240-250 pounds, while Cardi was 130 pounds) and her pregnancy, which limited her ability to defend herself. “This girl is big. She got big black boots on,” Cardi said, emphasizing her vulnerability.

Rosen challenged Cardi’s claim of being recorded, noting she never saw the video and had no proof beyond her observation of Ellis’s phone position. Cardi confirmed she asked her lawyers to check for security footage but found none existed. She also clarified her fingernails on the day were one inch long, square with flat rhinestones, not sharp, countering Ellis’s claim of a scratch from two-to-three-inch nails.

Context of the Incident

Cardi testified she arrived alone, except for her security guard Karan Newton, who remained downstairs. The doctor’s office was closed to other patients to ensure her privacy, amplifying her frustration with Ellis’s alleged actions. When Ellis told her, “You going to leave my building,” Cardi refused, arguing, “I came to see a doctor. You following me. You’re recording me.” She denied Ellis’s authority to eject her, questioning her professionalism as a security guard.

The altercation ended when receptionist Tierra Malcolm intervened, followed by Dr. David Finke, who escorted Cardi to his office. Cardi denied Ellis’s claim that she (Ellis) was struck, noting Malcolm’s accusation that Ellis hit her instead.

Defense Strategy

Cardi’s attorney, Peter Anderson, emphasized inconsistencies in Ellis’s account, particularly her February 28, 2018, incident report claiming she was on her phone checking voicemail, not recording. Cardi’s team portrays her as a pregnant woman protecting her privacy against an overzealous guard. Witnesses like Malcolm and Finke have supported this, testifying that Ellis was aggressive and struck Malcolm.

Trial Dynamics and Implications

The testimony was marked by tense exchanges, with Rosen’s aggressive questioning prompting objections for being argumentative. The judge intervened to maintain civility, urging Cardi to pause for objections and Rosen to adjust his tone. Cardi’s candid demeanor—alternating between frustration and clarity—underscored her insistence on her innocence.

Ellis’s earlier testimony alleged physical and verbal assault, including racial slurs, but lacked corroborating video evidence. Psychologist Nichole McKenzie’s testimony on Day 2 noted Ellis’s emotional distress but no physical injuries in her reports, weakening the scar claim. The trial hinges on credibility, with Cardi’s team leveraging inconsistencies in Ellis’s story and her own consistent denial of physical contact.

As the trial nears closing arguments on September 2, 2025, additional witnesses, including Newton, may clarify the incident’s details. The case raises broader questions about celebrity privacy, security guard authority, and accountability in high-stakes interactions. A verdict could impact Cardi’s public image and set precedents for similar disputes.