An Ohio woman is taking legal action against rapper Cardi B, claiming she was hit by a microphone that the artist threw during a 2023 concert in Las Vegas.
The woman, known as Jane Doe in legal documents, said she attended Cardi B’s show at Drai’s Beachclub on July 29, 2023. She filed the lawsuit in a Nevada court, saying she was injured during the event.
According to the complaint, Cardi was performing in extreme heat and told the audience to splash water on her to cool her down. A video clip from the concert went viral, showing Cardi encouraging fans to do so with bold language.
The lawsuit claims Cardi gave both verbal and physical signs that fans could throw drinks. She reportedly poured water on herself and danced playfully in response to being splashed by the crowd.
Jane Doe said she only splashed a small amount of her drink toward Cardi, like many others were doing. But Cardi allegedly responded angrily and threw her microphone directly at her.
The woman said the microphone hit her, causing injury and distress. She claims Cardi’s reaction was too much and harmed her physically and emotionally. The lawsuit says Cardi should’ve known that throwing a microphone could hurt someone.
Doe is suing for assault, battery, and negligence. She said the incident caused her serious emotional stress, embarrassment, and pain. She also blames Drai’s Beachclub for not taking steps to prevent the situation, especially since Cardi had allegedly thrown a microphone at a DJ the night before.
The microphone from the incident was later sold for about $99,000. Doe said this added to her emotional pain, as the event was turned into a public joke.
She says she’s still dealing with pain, embarrassment, and online harassment. She is asking for both compensation and punishment damages.
Police had investigated Cardi B for battery after the incident, but the case was later closed due to a lack of evidence.
In a statement to PEOPLE, the woman said the incident has deeply affected her life, and she hopes to hold Cardi accountable. She added that no celebrity should be above the law.
Cardi B’s lawyer, Drew Findling, responded by calling the lawsuit a “financial shakedown.” He said the criminal case was closed long ago and that the woman’s legal team is only trying to take advantage of Cardi’s fame.
