Grammy-award winning rapper Cardi B faced a tense courtroom showdown as she took the witness stand in a gripping civil assault trial in New York.
The high-profile case centres on allegations made by two sisters, Jade and Emily, who were working as bartenders at the Angels Strip Club in Flushing, Queens, back in 2018. They claim the 'Bodak Yellow' superstar orchestrated a violent attack against them, allegations which Cardi B's legal team vehemently denies.
A Clash of Accounts in Court
Under oath, the 31-year-old rapper, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, presented a starkly different version of events. She testified that her involvement was limited to throwing a "red solo cup with a liquid in it" after one of the plaintiffs allegedly threw a drink at her cousin.
Cardi B firmly denied the more serious accusations of commanding her entourage to assault the sisters with bottles and chairs, stating, "I never said, 'Beat these girls up.' I never said, 'Hit these girls with bottles.' I never said, 'Throw chairs at them.'"
The Heart of the Allegations
The plaintiffs' lawsuit paints a far more sinister picture. They accuse Cardi B of ordering her associates to carry out a vicious physical assault as retaliation for a prior dispute, allegedly because Jade had a relationship with the father of Cardi's child, the fellow rapper Offset.
They are seeking substantial damages for the physical injuries and emotional distress they say they suffered as a result of the incident.
A Complicated Persona
The trial has inevitably cast a spotlight on Cardi B's past. The rapper openly acknowledged her previous work as a stripper but was careful to distinguish that persona from the allegations. She admitted to having "beef" with the sisters but maintained her actions did not extend to physical violence.
This case continues to unfold, with the world watching to see how the jury will weigh the conflicting testimonies in this dramatic celebrity legal battle.
