Cardi B has scored a win in her upcoming assault trial, as the judge overseeing proceedings has barred jurors from hearing about the rapper’s previous legal troubles and past as a stripper.
On Wednesday (July 30), the rapper won a key ruling ahead of her upcoming trial over an alleged 2018 assault on a security guard. Los Angeles County Judge Ian C. Fusselman ruled that the jury cannot hear about Cardi’s past as a stripper or her previous legal issues, per Billboard.
The judge wrote: “Defendant’s prior acts and alleged prior acts, as well as prior involvement in exotic dancing or any gang associations, have no apparent probative value, and any references thereto would be unduly prejudicial and likely to confuse the jury and result in an undue waste of time.”
The trial, set to begin on August 11, stems from a lawsuit filed by former Beverly Hills Medical Center security guard Emani Ellis, who claims Cardi struck her and left facial injuries requiring plastic surgery.
The “Outside” rapper denies physical assault while stating that the two only argued after she overheard Ellis discussing her presence at the OBGYN clinic while Cardi, who was four months pregnant with daughter Kulture at the time, was trying to keep her pregnancy private.
Fusselman also ordered the trial be split into two parts: one to determine liability and another, if necessary, to address damages.
Ellis filed her lawsuit in February 2020. Cardi responded to the filing on her X account at the time, writing: “Why don’t you guys post the part where the doctor office said that that’s not what happen ?and if I assaulted why she didn’t press charges ? Why would I put my hands on some1 twice my size by myself while I’m experiencing sharp pain 4 months pregnant ?”
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