Major Controversies Surrounding Cardi B: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Cardi B—discover key moments of controversy.

Cardi B, born Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, is an American rapper from New York City. She gained prominence for her energetic rap style and candid lyrics. Starting her music career in 2016 with two mixtapes, she's recognized for boosting the visibility and importance of female rappers in the music industry.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

2016: Cardi B discusses drugging and robbing men

In 2016, Cardi B admitted that when she worked as a stripper, she used to drug and rob men for their money.

2017: Feud with Nicki Minaj

Since around 2017, Cardi B has been involved in a widely publicized feud with rapper Nicki Minaj.

May 2018: Response to "Girls" Collaboration Accusations

In May 2018, following the release of the song "Girls", a collaboration in which she was featured, Cardi B responded to accusations that the song trivialized LGBT relationships, stating they never intended to cause harm and that she had personal experiences with women.

October 1, 2018: Accusation of assault

On October 1, 2018, Cardi B was accused of an alleged assault of two female bartenders at a club.

December 7, 2018: Court appearance for arraignment

On December 7, 2018, Cardi B appeared in court for her arraignment, after missing the originally scheduled date.

June 21, 2019: Jury indictment

On June 21, 2019, a jury indicted Cardi B on 14 charges, including two counts of felony assault, stemming from the October 2018 incident.

June 25, 2019: Arraignment and not guilty plea

On June 25, 2019, Cardi B was arraigned on 14 charges related to the assault incident and pleaded not guilty on all charges.

2019: Controversy over drugging and robbing

In 2019, after controversies sparked regarding her past actions of drugging and robbing men, Cardi B defended herself, stating she did what she had to do to survive and never glorified those actions.

January 24, 2022: Million-dollar defamation verdict

On January 24, 2022, Cardi B won a million-dollar defamation verdict against YouTuber Latasha Kebe (Tasha K) for posting false rumors.

March 25, 2022: Defamation lawsuit victory

On March 25, 2022, Cardi B, her sister Hennessy, and Hennessy's girlfriend won a defamation lawsuit filed against them by three men.

September 15, 2022: Guilty plea and sentencing

On September 15, 2022, Cardi B pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and second-degree reckless endangerment, resulting in a sentence of 15 days of community service.

July 2023: Microphone throwing incident

In July 2023, Cardi B threw her microphone into the crowd at a Las Vegas concert after a fan threw a liquid at her. The police decided not to pursue the case.

2023: Withdrawal of Support for Joe Biden

In late 2023, Cardi B stated she no longer supports Joe Biden for president due to his spending on wars.

2024: Cardi B comments on drugging and robbing incidents

In 2024, Cardi B addressed the past allegations again, stating she would repeat those actions if she could, indicating she doesn't feel bad about what she did.