Talk about a courtroom drama! Cardi B hit the stand to set the record straight on a $24 million lawsuit, denying claims she assaulted a security guard. The twist? This all went down while she was secretly pregnant. What really happened that day outside the doctor’s office?

The legal saga surrounding Grammy-winning artist Cardi B intensified this week as the rapper took the stand to vehemently deny allegations of assault from a former security guard. The high-profile civil trial, which stems from an alleged altercation in February 2018, places the spotlight on a previously undisclosed detail of her life: her first pregnancy. This highly anticipated testimony offered a rare glimpse into the pressures faced by public figures balancing personal milestones with burgeoning careers.

The plaintiff, a building security guard named Ellis, claims that during the 2018 incident, Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, scratched her face with a fingernail and spat on her. These serious accusations have formed the core of a lawsuit seeking substantial damages, including compensation for alleged emotional and physical suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses for cosmetic surgery to address a reported facial scar. The financial implications are significant, with Cardi B herself stating in court that the security guard is “suing me for $24 million.”

In a dramatic turn, Cardi B, then four months pregnant, directly refuted Ellis’s account during her testimony. She adamantly stated, “She couldn’t get a scratch from me because I didn’t touch her,” dismissing the possibility of inflicting the alleged injury. Her defense centers on a complete denial of physical contact, challenging the narrative presented by the plaintiff regarding the heated confrontation outside an obstetrician’s office.

A pivotal aspect of the testimony revolved around the rapper’s then-secret pregnancy with her first child, whom she shares with rapper Offset. Cardi B explained that she was in the “freshman year” of her stardom, fresh off the success of “Bodak Yellow,” and had chosen to keep her pregnancy private from the public and even her parents. This desire for discretion became a central theme in her account of the encounter, influencing her perception of the security guard’s actions.

According to Cardi B, the conflict escalated when Ellis allegedly followed her to her fifth-floor appointment, appeared to be filming her, and mentioned her name into a phone. The rapper testified that she feared Ellis was attempting to expose her pregnancy secret, a revelation that could have significantly impacted her career trajectory at that nascent stage. This perceived threat to her privacy, she explained, fueled the emotional tension of the situation, leading to the highly publicized courtroom drama.

Much attention in the courtroom was directed towards the distinctive acrylic nails, adorned with rhinestones, that Cardi B wore during the week of the incident. The defense meticulously explored whether these specific nail enhancements could have caused the type of damage described by the plaintiff. Detailed questioning aimed to discredit the physical evidence presented by Ellis, suggesting her alleged injuries were not consistent with Cardi B’s nail style or her denial of contact in this celebrity legal battle.

Crucially, the court heard from Tierra Malcolm, the receptionist from the doctor’s office who intervened to de-escalate the argument. Malcolm’s testimony largely corroborated Cardi B’s version of events, lending significant weight to the rapper’s defense. This independent account from a third-party witness could prove instrumental in the jury’s deliberations, potentially swaying opinions in favor of the acclaimed hip hop artist.

The lawsuit has taken a toll on both parties, with Ellis losing her job and citing humiliation and trauma, while Cardi B faces intense public scrutiny and a substantial financial claim. This high-profile legal battle highlights the complex challenges faced by celebrities, where private moments can quickly become public spectacles with far-reaching consequences. The verdict in this case will not only determine financial liability but also carry significant implications for the reputations involved.