Cardi B returned to the witness stand on Wednesday in a civil swimsuit introduced by a safety guard who alleged that the rapper assaulted her — even scratching her with one in every of her nail extensions — in a 2018 incident within the hallway outdoors a Beverly Hills obstetrician’s workplace.
On Wednesday, the performer blasted the plaintiff, saying she is searching for a payout. Emani Ellis is looking for $24 million. Cardi B stated the pair went chest-to-chest and exchanged heated phrases however nothing extra.
The protection rested on the finish of Wednesday’s session, and the jury within the Alhambra courtroom will hear closing arguments on Thursday.
Cardi B, whose actual identify is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, reiterated in her testimony that she by no means touched, scratched or spat on the safety guard, who she believed was taking video of her together with her cellphone.
Her protection acquired a lift Wednesday with the testimony of the obstetrician with whom the then-4-months-pregnant rapper had an appointment on the day of the incident — Feb. 24, 2018 — in addition to from his receptionist.
Receptionist Tierra Malcolm advised jurors that she noticed Ellis nook Cardi B — after which, when the receptionist acquired between them, the guard reached for the rapper. The receptionist stated she ended up with a minimize on her personal brow.
Dr. David Finke testified that he noticed the guard trigger that damage and likewise hit the receptionist’s shoulder. He additional stated that Ellis had no accidents to her face. Each testified they by no means noticed Cardi B hit Ellis.
However the rapper testified that when a health care provider’s staffer requested Ellis that day what had occurred, Ellis stated, “The b— simply hit me.’ … And I’m, like, so confused as a result of … I didn’t hit you.”
Below cross-examination by Ellis’ legal professional, the rapper acknowledged she and Ellis have been chest-to-chest as expletives have been traded.
Ellis filed swimsuit in 2020, alleging assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional misery in addition to negligence and false imprisonment.
She labored as a safety guard on the constructing the place Cardi B had her medical appointment and stated throughout testimony on Monday that she was doing her rounds when she noticed the celeb get off the elevator. She testified that she was overcome with pleasure and declared, “Wow, it’s Cardi B.”
Ellis alleged that the performer then turned to her and stated, “Why the f— are you telling folks you’ve seen me?” Cardi B then accused her of attempting to unfold information about her being on the physician’s workplace, she testified.
Cardi B cursed at her, used the N-word and different slurs, referred to as her names, threatened her job, body-shamed her and mocked her profession, Ellis stated. She alleged Cardi B spat on her, took a swing at her and scratched her left cheek with a 2- to 3-inch fingernail.
The rapper stated throughout Wednesday’s courtroom proceedings that she’s 5 foot 3 and was 130 kilos and pregnant on the time. She wouldn’t have tried to combat the guard, who was far bigger, she stated.
Requested if she was “disabled” in the course of the incident, Cardi B’s feedback drew laughter within the courtroom: “At that second, whenever you’re pregnant, I’m very disabled,” she stated with a roll of her eyes. “You need me to inform you the issues I can’t do?”
Malcolm stated that Cardi B was the lone affected person visiting the workplace that day because it had been closed for her privateness.
When the incident occurred, the receptionist stated, “I actually simply noticed Ms. Ellis in entrance of her and that’s what made me rush and get in between.” Malcolm acknowledged that she didn’t see the whole interplay between the pair.
When she acquired between them, Malcolm testified she was going through Ellis, who was reaching together with her arms. Malcolm stated she suffered a minimize to her brow in the course of the incident.
“Cardi B was behind me. The one assumption I had was that it was from Ms. Ellis as she was going through me,” she testified. “I see her palms attempting to succeed in over me.”
Requested if Cardi B may have triggered the damage with one in every of her nails, she replied, “However she was behind me.” She stated it was a nurse who seen the minimize to her brow.
The physician stated he was “simply flabbergasted with the allegations that don’t appear congruent with what i noticed that day.”
Following the incident, he stated he finally persuaded Ellis to get on the elevator and depart the ground.
Cardi B testified Wednesday that her social media followers alerted her that the guard had gone on-line in regards to the incident, the place she responded, calling the accusations lies.
For the third day of the trial, the rapper, recognized for her daring type selections, donned an extended black wig. The primary day of the trial, she sported brief black hair, adopted the following day by a blond showgirl coiffure.
