Cardi B and Accuser Emani Ellis SPEAK OUT After Rapper Wins $24M Lawsuit

So, first thing first, I want to thank my lawyers, I want to thank the jurors, I want to thank the judge, and I want to thank the respectful press. I really, really appreciate that. And I want to thank everybody at home supporting me. I know you guys are having a little key with the moment, but to be honest with you, I missed my kids’ first day of school today. I missed my kids’ last week of school yesterday because of this. And I’m not even playing around. Even if I’m on my deathbed, I swear to God I will say it: I did not touch that woman. I did not touch that girl. I didn’t lay my hands on that girl. And with that being said, this time around, I’m going to be nice. The next person that tries to do a frivolous lawsuit against me, I’m going to countersue and I’m gonna make you pay, because this is not okay. I think people have this misinterpretation of celebrities, like, “Oh, we can ask for this, and they’re going to settle.” You don’t work at home, you don’t work all day, and you don’t work for your money just to give out your money. So don’t ever think I’m just going to give you my money that I work hard for. I don’t lay in bed all day. I work all day, and I work hard for my money, for my kids, and for the people I take care of. So don’t you ever think you’re going to sue me and I’m just going to settle and give you my money. It’s not going to happen.

I also want fans at home not to find her social media, her family’s social media, and bother her. I hope this is something that I leave behind and she leaves behind. Don’t go bother her. Don’t talk about her. Don’t talk about how she looks. Don’t call her nasty names. Let’s just put this behind us. But I’m giving a warning: I am not that celeb you’re going to sue and think it’s going to settle. I’m not going to settle—especially when I’m completely innocent. I know I got a little reputation, but I swear to God I’m innocent. Like, I’m really innocent for real. And I just want to say thank you, everybody. It’s been really tough. It’s been really long nights for me. I’m in the middle of an album rollout, so it’s been late nights and early mornings—5:30 in the morning, I gotta get up at 5:30 so I can look like this for y’all. Muchas gracias.

I’m telling you guys, when I say my forehead is raw from changing all these wigs—raw, raw, raw. And yeah, thank you to the witnesses and thank you to everybody who just took their time to come out.

They came back so quickly with this verdict. What does it say? It says that it will—

[Cut to interview:]
Tell us your courtroom strategy. The internet has been on fire with people saying you’re keeping it classy but also keeping it real. How did you approach some of those questions and make sure you were getting your point across?

By just telling the truth. It’s really funny that people are like, “Oh, she’s amazing up there,” and I’m like, “I’m just saying the truth.” I’m just telling everything as much as I can remember. I’m just telling the truth, to be honest with you. I ain’t do nothing special.

[Plaintiff’s side:]
Are you disappointed with the verdict?
Not at all. I don’t think it reflects the truth, but I’m not disappointed. We know the justice system is sometimes flawed, and unfortunately, that was the case for me. Like I said, I still stand firm on my position. I still stand firm with my attorney. I think we fought a good fight. But more importantly, it’s about accountability. I had my day in court. I showed up. I held my head high. I can walk away and say I showed up. She had to look me in the eye. I had to look her in the eye, and we did our best.

Are you sorry you brought the case?
Not at all.

Cardi said she would refuse to settle in this case and that she will countersue if anyone else brings a frivolous lawsuit against her. What do you think about that?
This is for me? Well, my statement is—you never know what a jury is going to do. You could try a case in different courts with different juries and get ten different outcomes. You just never really know. We did our best to present the facts we needed to present to the jury. We obviously have a right to appeal, and our intention is to appeal.

How do you feel about how the defendant conducted herself in court?
I thought it was totally unprofessional. I think it showed volumes about her character—the type of person that she is. A lot of her body language, her gestures, facial expressions, her disrespect for the court—I think it speaks to who she is. I think we saw how I conducted myself during this trial, and I think that speaks volumes.

Can you say and spell your name?
Sure. My name is Ron Rosen John Faza. I’m the attorney for the plaintiff. I’ve had this case for a number of years. I took it over from another lawyer, and we put it together as best we could with what we had to work with. I disagree with the verdict. You can see from Cardi B—she has a history of doing these things. Even today, in the courthouse, right where I’m standing, she threw something at one of you. And I think that’s very poor judgment on her part, to do something like that in a courthouse. This is a court—you don’t do that. It’s wrong. She really made a fool of herself, in my opinion.

With a unanimous verdict, what is the basis for an appeal?
There are many things that occurred. I can’t get into the details now. That would be for the appellate attorney I work with. We’ll decide how to handle it.

Mr. Ellis, what’s next for you?
Going to law school.

Did this case prompt that decision?
I had already planned on going to law school, but during this case, it kind of amplified those dreams.

Do you feel like you’ve been painted in a bad light?
I think from the defendant, yes. But that’s what she’s going to do. She’s going to make me seem like a bad person. I know who I am. I know what I’ve accomplished. That’s all that matters to me.

You started as a fan of her music. Are you still a fan today?
No.

Will you be listening to her new album?
Not at all.

Cardi asked that the public please leave you alone and not slander you on social media. Does that mean anything to you?
That’s news to me. She’s never told me that. She’s never even offered me an apology.