Cardi B Fires Back In La Court: 'I Didn’T Touch Her!' In Security Guard Assault Case

Cardi B’s Courtroom Showdown in SoCal

Los Angeles is no stranger to drama, but this week, the spotlight shifted from Hollywood’s red carpets to a small courthouse in Alhambra, a quiet spot just east of downtown LA. Cardi B, the chart-topping queen of hip-hop, found herself in the hot seat, testifying on Wednesday in a case that’s got everyone buzzing. A security guard, Emani Ellis, is suing Cardi for assault, claiming the rapper scratched her face and spat on her during a heated clash outside an obstetrician’s office back in February 2018.

This wasn’t just any day for Cardi - she was four months pregnant with her first child (with rapper Offset) and keeping it on the down-low, away from the paparazzi’s prying lenses. The incident, which went down during a promo trip for the NBA All-Star Game, has now turned into a full-blown legal battle. And Cardi? She’s not holding back on her side of the story, bringing that straight-up NYC energy with a Cali twist to the stand.

Heated Words, No Hands: Cardi’s Side of the Story

In her second day of testimony, Cardi was crystal clear: no hands were thrown. 'She couldn’t get a scratch from me because I didn’t touch her,' she declared, shutting down Ellis’s claims faster than a 405 freeway shutdown during rush hour. The rapper admitted things got intense - chest-to-chest intense - with plenty of cussing on both sides, but she insisted it never got physical. 'She was going to touch me, but she didn’t get to touch me,' Cardi added, painting a picture of a near-miss brawl.

The backstory? Cardi was in town for work, trying to keep her pregnancy under wraps while visiting a private doctor’s appointment on a Saturday, with the office cleared out for her privacy. But trouble brewed when Ellis, the building’s security guard, allegedly followed her to the fifth floor, possibly filming her and risking exposing her baby news. 'I told her, ‘Why are you recording?’ and she said, ‘Oh my bad,’' Cardi recalled, noting the guard’s half-hearted apology only fueled the fire.

Pregnancy Pressure and Privacy Fears

Under questioning from her own attorney, Cardi got real about why she was so protective of her privacy back then. Fresh off the massive success of 'Bodak Yellow,' she was still adjusting to superstardom - basically in her 'freshman year' of fame - and worried about letting fans down with personal news. 'I thought I was letting a lot of people down,' she admitted, adding that pregnancy felt 'sacred' and deeply personal, especially in a town like LA where nothing stays secret for long.

'I was just so worried about what everybody was saying and thinking - I needed to keep this to myself,' Cardi shared on the stand, giving a glimpse into the pressure of fame in the City of Angels.

The tension escalated as Cardi described Ellis backing her into a corner, literally walking into her space. Both women, around 32 and similar in height, had a size difference - Cardi called Ellis 'security-heavy,' joking she looked like she could 'protect the building.' It’s pure Malibu-style drama, but with real stakes in court.

Nails, Scratches, and Witness Accounts

Those Iconic Acrylics

A big chunk of the testimony zeroed in on Cardi’s signature style - her acrylic nails, decked out with rhinestones that week. Were they weapons or just fashion? 'It wasn’t a shape that was harming, it was coffin-shaped,' Cardi explained, insisting they weren’t sharp enough to cause the damage Ellis claims. The guard, who testified earlier, says the incident left a scar on her face requiring cosmetic surgery, plus emotional trauma and humiliation.

Ellis is after major damages - medical bills, emotional and physical suffering, lost wages (she lost her job over this), and punitive damages. Cardi dropped a bombshell from the stand, claiming the lawsuit is hitting her for a staggering $24 million. That’s some serious Hollywood cash on the line.

A Witness Steps In

Adding fuel to the fire, a receptionist from the doctor’s office, Tierra Malcolm, backed up Cardi’s version of events. She testified that she heard the commotion, rushed into the hallway, and saw no physical fight - just a lot of heated words. Malcolm even noticed a scratch on her own face after breaking things up, assuming it came from Ellis since her back was to Cardi.

The courtroom got a laugh when Malcolm hesitated to curse while describing the argument, only for Judge Ian C. Fusselman to quip, 'We’ve heard just about everything so far, so it’s OK.' It’s a rare moment of levity in a case that’s otherwise pure tension. The trial’s taking a break for the rest of the week but will wrap up next week in Alhambra - a spot not used to hosting celeb showdowns like this.

What’s Next for Cardi?

As the trial pauses, all eyes are on Cardi B and how this legal mess will play out. Will the jury buy her story of a verbal-only clash, or will Ellis’s claims of injury and trauma sway them? One thing’s for sure - in a city where image is everything, this case is a stark reminder that even the biggest stars can’t escape the drama of real life.

Stick with us for updates as this SoCal saga continues to unfold. Whether it’s on the Sunset Strip or in a courtroom, Cardi’s always got a story to tell - and we’re here for every beat of it. Drop your thoughts in the comments: Team Cardi or do you think there’s more to this story?