Who Sued Cardi B: The High-Stakes Legal Battles and Surprise Wins Explained

Who Sued Cardi B: The High-Stakes Legal Battles and Surprise Wins Explained

Let’s be real. Cardi B’s life is basically a high-octane soap opera where the stakes are always in the millions. You’ve seen her on the red carpet, but you’ve probably also seen her walking into courthouses in outfits that cost more than a mid-sized sedan.

She's a magnet for drama. Honestly, it's part of the brand.

But lately, the "Bodak Yellow" rapper hasn't just been defending her reputation in the booth; she’s been doing it in front of juries. If you’ve been scrolling through social media trying to keep track of who sued Cardi B, you know it’s a tangled mess of tattoo artists, bloggers, and security guards. It’s a lot to untangle.

Most people think she’s just writing checks to make problems go away. Nope. Not lately.

The $24 Million Doctor’s Office Drama: Emani Ellis

Just a few months ago, the internet was buzzing about a trial in Alhambra, California. A security guard named Emani Ellis claimed that back in 2018, while a then-pregnant Cardi B was visiting an OB-GYN, things turned physical.

Ellis alleged that Cardi spat on her and scratched her face with those signature long acrylic nails. She was asking for $24 million.

Yeah, you read that right. $24 million for a hallway argument.

🔗 Read more: What Really Happened With the Death of John Candy: A Legacy of Laughter and Heartbreak

Cardi’s defense was basically: "I didn't touch her." She testified that she was four months pregnant at the time and felt "disabled" by her pregnancy, making the idea of a physical brawl ridiculous. The jury didn't take long—about an hour, actually—to decide that Cardi wasn't liable for a single cent.

It was a total shutout.

After the win in September 2025, Cardi was famously vocal outside the courthouse. She told reporters she isn't the celebrity who just settles to avoid the PR headache. If she’s innocent, she’s fighting. It's a vibe that has defined her legal strategy over the last couple of years.

The Blogger Battle: Tasha K’s Defamation Nightmare

If you want to talk about who sued Cardi B, you have to talk about the time Cardi did the suing herself. But even then, the countersuits and bankruptcy filings made it a legal marathon.

Latasha Kebe, known online as Tasha K, spent months posting videos with some pretty wild claims about Cardi. We’re talking allegations of drug use, infidelity, and health issues.

Cardi didn't just ignore it. She sued for defamation.

💡 You might also like: Is There Actually a Wife of Tiger Shroff? Sorting Fact from Viral Fiction

In 2022, a jury awarded Cardi roughly $4 million. But then things got weird. Tasha K filed for bankruptcy, claiming she only had about $59,000 to her name and a Chevy Silverado. Cardi’s lawyers weren't buying it, accusing her of hiding money through her husband's business.

The 2025 Update

Fast forward to February 2025. They finally reached a settlement plan. Tasha K is now on a five-year payment schedule to pay back $1.2 million. It’s not the full $4 million, but Cardi kept the right to go after the rest later.

Basically, the vlogger is paying a "Cardi tax" for the next half-decade.

The Mixtape Tattoo Tussle: Kevin Michael Brophy

This one feels like it happened a lifetime ago, but it only officially wrapped up recently. Back in 2017, a guy named Kevin Michael Brophy sued because his very distinct back tattoo was Photoshopped onto a model for the cover of Cardi’s Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1 mixtape.

Brophy wanted $5 million. He claimed his life was "devastated" because people thought he was the guy on the cover.

Cardi fought this one tooth and nail too.

📖 Related: Bea Alonzo and Boyfriend Vincent Co: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes

In late 2022, a judge ruled in her favor, saying the use of the tattoo was transformative enough to be legal. But the real kicker? In 2023, Brophy agreed to drop all appeals and actually pay Cardi $350,000 for her legal fees.

Talk about a backfire.

Why People Keep Suing (and Why They’re Losing)

It’s easy to look at a celebrity and see a walking ATM. That’s essentially what Cardi B is arguing these days. She’s transitioned from the "girl who might settle" to the "rapper who will make you pay her legal fees."

  1. The Frivolous Lawsuit Label: Cardi has been very intentional about labeling these cases as "shakedowns."
  2. Aggressive Defense: Her legal team, including high-profile lawyers like Lisa Moore, doesn't play defense—they play offense.
  3. Public Perception: By winning these cases so decisively, she’s sending a message to anyone else thinking about filing a "slip and fall" style lawsuit.

It’s a risky game for the plaintiffs. When you sue a multi-millionaire, you expect a settlement. When you get a jury trial and a bill for the other side's lawyers instead, the "easy money" disappears pretty fast.

What This Means for Your Favorite Celebs

Cardi’s legal run is actually changing how other stars handle litigation. For a long time, the standard PR move was to settle quietly. "Keep it out of the papers," they’d say.

Cardi B did the opposite. She live-streamed her reactions, showed up in viral outfits, and turned the courtroom into a stage. By winning, she proved that "loud and litigious" can actually work.

If you're following the legal trail of who sued Cardi B, the takeaway isn't just about the money. It's about the precedent. She’s making it very expensive and very embarrassing for people to lose against her.

Actionable Takeaways for the Curious

  • Monitor Court Calendars: If you want the real story, look at the actual filings in Los Angeles County or federal court rather than just TikTok rumors.
  • Watch the "Counter-Sue" Trend: Expect more celebrities to follow the Brophy model—demanding legal fees from unsuccessful plaintiffs.
  • Follow the Money: In cases like Tasha K's, the lawsuit isn't over when the verdict is read; the bankruptcy court is where the real drama happens.

The legal saga of Cardi B is far from over, but the era of people getting easy payouts from her seems to be officially closed.