Cardi B is admitting to catching some Zs in the courtroom.
The “Imaginary Playerz” rapper took the internet by storm earlier this month with her viral reactions during a civil trial over a lawsuit brought by a security guard who accused her of assault in 2018.
In one particular viral moment during the televised trial, Cardi, 32, appeared to nod off during closing arguments.
“I’m not gonna lie, I was [sleeping],” she admitted during a Monday, September 15, appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show. “I had a long night.”
The Grammy winner attributed her catnap to her busy schedule as she prepares to drop her second studio album, Am I the Drama?, on Friday, September 19.
Cardi B has been embroiled in a $24 million lawsuit with security guard Emani Ellis since 2020. Ellis filed suit against Cardi (real name Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar) following an alleged altercation that took place at a Beverly Hills, California, medical office in 2018. A physical confrontation allegedly erupted when Cardi suspected that Ellis was filming […]
“I’m in the middle of an album rollout. I was so sleepy,” she explained. “I was trying to fight it, but I just couldn’t. I was breathing [in and out] so I could not fall asleep, but I did.”
As for her many viral moments during the trial, Cardi said, “You know what, I thought it was very, very funny.”
“I was very, very upset because I’m in the middle of an album rollout and I have to go to court, and then when I get to court, I realize it’s going to be on national TV. It’s like, ‘You have to be kidding me?’” she continued. “I missed my kid’s first day of school. I was like, you know what, at least it was positive press.”
On September 2, Cardi (real name Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar) was found not liable in the civil suit and cleared of assault and battery charges brought against her by security guard Emani Ellis.
In a post-trial press conference, the “I Like It” rapper maintained her innocence, declaring, “I did not touch that woman.”
Cardi called the lawsuit “frivolous” and warned others who might try to sue her in the future.
“This time around, I’m going to be nice,” she said. “The next person to try and do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to countersue and I’m going to make you pay.”
In a lawsuit filed in 2020, Ellis accused Cardi of assaulting her outside a Beverly Hills medical facility in 2018. Cardi denied getting into a physical altercation with the security guard and maintained they only had a verbal exchange.
At trial, Cardi testified that Ellis was the instigator in the confrontation, alleging Ellis filmed her while she was walking down the hallway of the medical facility. Cardi said she was pregnant with her first child at the time.
