Closing Arguments Underway in Cardi B’s Civil Assault Trial

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 2, 2025 - Closing arguments commenced today in the civil lawsuit filed by former security guard Emani Ellis, who alleges that Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B assaulted her during a 2018 visit to a Beverly Hills medical facility.

During the morning session, plaintiff’s attorney Ron Rosen Janfaza urged the jury to hold Cardi B (Belcalis Almánzar) accountable for the alleged physical attack, emphasizing Ellis’s reported medical expenses and emotional distress. He described evidence suggesting that the rapper “spat on her, used racial slurs and scratched her cheek,” arguing that Ellis was “traumatized by what occurred” and deserves compensation for her injuries and anguish.

In response, defense lawyer Peterson Anderson painted Ellis as the instigator, asserting that she pursued Cardi B down a hallway while recording her and refused to cease filming despite repeated requests. Anderson argued that there is “simply no credible evidence” of physical contact and characterized the encounter as purely verbal, urging jurors to dismiss claims of assault and battery.

The high-profile courtroom spectacle, broadcast live and widely shared on social media, has drawn attention not only for its legal implications but also for Cardi B’s candid and expressive demeanor on the stand. Clips of her sharp retorts and changing wigs have gone viral, highlighting the trial’s cultural resonance as much as its legal stakes.

Closing statements will conclude later today, after which the jury will begin deliberations. The outcome will determine whether Cardi B must pay damages to Ellis for alleged assault, battery and infliction of emotional distress.