‘Which one is your real hair?’ Rapper’s wigs and nails baffle lawyers in court

Noor NanjiCulture reporterWatch key moments from Cardi B’s testimony in courtCardi B has been within the highlight this week after taking the witness stand in Los Angeles to inform a courtroom she didn’t assault a safety guard who’s suing her for assault.The colorful US rapper is accused of slicing Emani Ellis’s cheek with a 3in (7.5cm) fingernail and spitting on her throughout an altercation exterior an physician’s workplace in 2018, leaving the guard “deeply traumatised”.Cardi testified that Ms Ellis invaded her privateness by filming and following her in opposition to her will and telling somebody on the telephone about her appointment for a being pregnant that wasn’t but public information. There was a “verbal battle”, the star mentioned – however she insisted it “did not get bodily”.Through the proof, numerous moments from the civil trial have gone viral, as have a few of Cardi B’s feedback and facial expressions on the stand.The trial is predicted to conclude subsequent week. This is a round-up of what has occurred to date.’I did not contact her’The case revolves round Cardi B’s arrival for an obstetrics appointment, when she was 4 months pregnant along with her first youngster.The rapper informed the courtroom on Tuesday that when she stepped out of an elevator, Ms Ellis, who was working as a safety guard within the constructing, informed somebody on the telephone that the star was there, then adopted her down a hallway.The performer, whose actual title is Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, added that Ms Ellis appeared to file her on her telephone and refused to “again up”, earlier than a face-to-face “verbal altercation” ensued.She admitted shouting an obscenity at Ms Ellis whereas telling her to “get out of my face”, including: “We’re actually screaming at one another.”Her lawyer famous how the star had “feared for her unborn child” and in addition accused Ms Ellis of getting “modified your story”.A ‘hyper-sensitive’ scarMs Ellis earlier informed the courtroom she mentioned the rapper’s title aloud out of pleasure when she noticed her, however did not inform anybody she was there and did not movie her.Ms Ellis claims the rapper accused her of making an attempt to unfold information about her being on the physician’s workplace, then hurled insults and threats, and attacked her.A plastic surgeon testified that he had handled Ms Ellis for a “hyper-sensitive” scar on her cheek, “almost certainly” attributable to fingernails, after first analyzing her in 2022.The physician Cardi was visiting on the day of the altercation in 2018 and his receptionist additionally gave proof, largely backing up the rapper’s account by saying they did not see her hit Ms Ellis.Ms Ellis sued the star in 2020 for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional misery in addition to negligence and false imprisonment.’Like an SNL skit’Getty ImagesCardi B had lengthy black hair when she attended the trial on WednesdayAs the trial continued, movies and memes of Cardi B’s feedback on the stand, and her animated facial expressions, had been shared broadly on-line.”Cardi gave us seems, comedy and a bunch of memes,” wrote one X consumer. One other referred to as her “pure comedy”.”Cardi B in courtroom at the moment was like an SNL [Saturday Night Live] skit,” wrote one X consumer in a submit that has been seen greater than six million occasions.They posted a video wherein Cardi B was requested by the lawyer: “When you needed to scratch or reduce her face together with your proper or your left hand, should you needed to do it, you can’ve performed it, proper? You are not disabled?””However I did not as a result of I had a child inside me,” she responded.The lawyer replied: “Are you disabled? Sure or no?””At that second, whenever you’re pregnant, I am very disabled. Would you like me to let you know issues I am unable to do?” she mentioned, prompting laughter within the courtroom.’Hiya, I am right here’In one other part of the cross-examination, Cardi B mentioned she was “very involved” throughout the encounter with Ms Ellis.”Why had been you involved?”, the lawyer asks.With a watch roll and a shrug, Cardi B exclaimed: “As a result of I am pregnant! And this lady is about to f****** beat my ass. Hiya?””Hiya?” The lawyer responded. “Hiya, I am right here.”Others shared movies of an trade wherein Cardi B was requested if she thought Ms Ellis was larger than her.”Completely,” Cardi B responded. When requested how she knew that, she gesticulated and pointed at her eyes, and shook her head incredulously. “I imply, look,” she mentioned.”I am trying,” the lawyer responded.”You’ve got her medical information, proper?” Cardi B says.”I haven’t got something,” he retorted.Cardi B then smiled and flicked her hair. “I imply, I used to be 130lb on the time,” she mentioned.”So she’s chubby?” the lawyer requested. “Did you name her fats?””No. I used to be calling her a b****,” Cardi B replied.Wig confusion – ‘Right now it is blonde and lengthy’Getty ImagesArriving at courtroom on Tuesday, Cardi B had lengthy blonde hairCardi B sported a variety of various hairstyles for her courtroom appearances this week, together with a black pixie reduce in the future and lengthy blonde locks the subsequent.In a single broadly shared second, an lawyer requested Cardi B about her hair.”Yesterday you had black hair, brief hair. Right now it is blonde and lengthy. Which one is your actual hair? Or are they each actual?””They’re wigs,” Cardi B replied with fun and a coy look. “OK. Sorry, I did not know that. It is a good wig at the moment, then,” the lawyer replied.He then moved on to Cardi B’s fingernails, asking her how lengthy they had been.“Simply your finest estimate, I do not need you to take a ruler to it,” he mentioned.”It must be lower than an inch,” she responded.When requested whether or not they had been pointy, she replied: “To me they don’t seem to be pointy, they’re like, circle.”After establishing that the nails had been, actually, pretend, a dialogue then adopted about how she removes them, and the way straightforward it’s to interchange them.Whereas some individuals on social media had been amused by line of questioning, others questioned whether or not it could possibly be interpreted as racist or misogynistic.”This lawyer 100% is making an attempt to implement a racist stereotype of a black lady asking about her hair and nails,” mentioned one X consumer.One other requested why the lawyer requested these questions, saying: “Black and Latina girls are all the time scrutinised for his or her hair.”‘A fascination with celebrities’Media lawyer Jonathan Coad says social media has “fully modified” how a lot prominence trials like this obtain.”Courts have all the time had drama. However earlier than, these kinds of trials had been simply written about within the newspapers, the next day.”Now, all the things is performed out in actual time on social media. In America, they’ve cameras in courts, so you may truly watch all of it occurring,” he mentioned.”When you add to that the fascination we now have with celebrities, then you definately’ve obtained completely ripping content material.”Mr Coad mentioned Cardi B could nicely have been inspired by her legal professionals to make use of “all of her appeal and persuasive energy” within the witness field.A jury trial is “basically a reputation contest”, he mentioned. “That is what it turns into.”Cardi B is finest recognized for hits similar to I Like It, Up, Bodak Yellow and WAP – a duet with Megan Thee Stallion.The singer, who has three kids, received a Grammy award in 2019 for her debut studio album Invasion of Privateness.