Security Guard Testifies Against Cardi B in Explosive Civil Assault Trial Over Shocking OB-GYN Altercation

Los Angeles, CA – August 28, 2025 – Emani Ellis, a former security guard, took the stand as the first witness in the civil assault trial against rapper Cardi B on Monday, August 25, in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Ellis recounted a heated 2018 confrontation at a Beverly Hills medical building, alleging that Cardi B, then pregnant with her first child, Kulture, verbally assaulted her with profanities and racial slurs, spat on her, and scratched her face with a long fingernail, resulting in a scar requiring plastic surgery. Cardi B denies the allegations, asserting that Ellis was the aggressor and attempted to record her without consent during a private medical visit. The trial, which probes issues of celebrity privacy and workplace conduct, continues to draw significant attention.

Trial Background

The incident occurred on February 24, 2018, at 8920 Wilshire Boulevard, where Ellis worked as a security guard. Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, was visiting her obstetrician’s office on the fifth floor for a confidential appointment, as she was approximately four months pregnant and had not yet publicly announced her pregnancy. Ellis claims the altercation began after she recognized Cardi and exclaimed, “Wow, that’s Cardi B,” prompting an aggressive response. She is suing for assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and false imprisonment, seeking $24 million in damages. Cardi maintains the encounter was verbal only, with no physical contact, and that Ellis initiated the conflict by attempting to film her.

Emani Ellis’s Testimony Highlights

Direct Examination by Rob Rosen

Ellis, now 32, testified that she was on duty at the medical building, having worked as a licensed security guard for four years with no criminal record or prior incidents. She described her role as protecting the building, hired by the landlord to maintain safety.

On the day of the incident, Ellis said she was entering a fifth-floor elevator when she saw Cardi B exit. She spontaneously remarked, “Wow, that’s Cardi B,” not speaking to anyone else. According to Ellis, Cardi turned around and confronted her, saying, “Why the f*** are you telling people you seen me?” Ellis denied sharing news of Cardi’s presence and tried to de-escalate, but Cardi allegedly became “extremely upset,” jabbing a finger in her face.

Ellis claimed Cardi’s fingernails, which she estimated at two to three inches long, were used to scratch her left cheek, causing a cut that required consultations with two plastic surgeons and eventual surgery. She also alleged Cardi spat on her, landing on her body, and took a swing that didn’t connect. Ellis recounted a barrage of insults, including, “F*** you, you fat a**, I’m gonna beat your a**, I’m gonna get you fired, that’s why you do security,” along with racial slurs and body-shaming remarks. She described Cardi as “sticking her tongue out, flailing her arms up and down, jumping up and down,” creating a disturbance.

Ellis testified she exited the elevator to clarify the misunderstanding, not to escalate, and noted her responsibility to address disturbances. She confirmed showing the resulting scar to her grandmother, Diane Schmidt, aged 79, but did not elaborate further on family involvement.

Photographic Evidence

Ellis’s attorney, Rob Rosen, introduced photographs (Exhibits 7-001 to 7-022) to contextualize the incident’s location. Ellis verified these as accurate depictions of the building, including the exterior, lobby, security booth where she worked, and the fifth-floor elevator area where the confrontation occurred. She noted the incident happened near the elevator bay after Cardi walked down the hallway and returned upon hearing Ellis’s remark. The photos, taken recently, showed a clean building, unlike the cluttered state depicted in some images not reflective of the incident day.

Personal Impact

Ellis, a former fan of Cardi B who had planned to attend her concert in 2018 but did not after the incident, described the encounter as “super traumatizing.” She linked it to her subsequent job loss, though she dropped a claim that Cardi directly orchestrated her firing. Ellis now works as a social worker, assisting low-income families, which she says offers better pay and stability.

Cross-Examination and Defense Strategy

Cardi’s attorney, Peter Anderson, challenged Ellis’s account, highlighting inconsistencies with a February 28, 2018, incident report she submitted to her supervisor. The report stated Ellis was holding her phone to her ear, checking voicemail due to her mother’s illness, contradicting her testimony that she wasn’t using her phone. Anderson also noted the report mentioned a scratch on her nose, not her cheek, suggesting Ellis “changed her story.” He argued Ellis was the aggressor, filming or photographing Cardi, prompting a justifiable reaction given Cardi’s private medical visit.

Cardi’s defense emphasizes that the office was closed to other patients to ensure privacy, and Ellis’s actions—calling out her name and allegedly holding a phone—breached that confidentiality. Cardi testified on subsequent days, denying physical contact and describing Ellis as intimidating due to her size (Ellis testified to being 240-250 pounds, while Cardi was 130 pounds and pregnant).

Implications and Next Steps

Ellis’s emotional testimony sets the stage for a contentious trial, with her credibility under scrutiny due to inconsistencies. Cardi’s team aims to portray her as a vulnerable pregnant woman protecting her privacy, while Ellis seeks to validate her claims of physical and emotional harm. Additional witnesses, including the obstetrician, Dr. David Finke, and receptionist Tierra Malcolm, have supported Cardi’s narrative, testifying that Ellis was aggressive and struck Malcolm during the incident. Closing arguments are expected on September 2, 2025.

The case raises questions about celebrity interactions, privacy rights, and workplace responsibilities, with significant financial and reputational stakes for both parties.