Cardi B Faces Lawsuit After Throwing Microphone at Fan During Las Vegas Show

24 July 2025

Brian Prahl/SplashNews Cardi B performs in Las Vegas in July 29, 2023

In the summer of 2023, a Beyoncé-style Las Vegas performance by Cardi B at Drai’s Beachclub was meant to be a fiery, fan-soaked spectacle. Midway through her energetic rendition of “Bodak Yellow,” the rapper, sensing the sweltering heat, invited fans to cool her with a splash of their drinks. The spontaneous concert moment took a dramatic turn when an Ohio woman, now identified in legal documents as Jane Doe, lightly splashed a drink toward the stage and was met with an unexpected retaliation. In what appears to be an instant impulse, Cardi B hurled her microphone into the crowd, hitting Doe and triggering what has escalated into a high-profile lawsuit alleging assault, battery, negligence, and emotional harm breathing new life into a viral moment captured on video.

Videos from that night reveal Cardi perched on the edge of the stage performing her signature hit as fans began tossing water her way. Onlookers recall her reaction, “That s--- feels good,” which was taken as implicit encouragement. Doe’s complaint confirms she acted in accordance with the vibe Cardi had created, but her follow-through sparked a backlash from the stage. The lawsuit underlines the abrupt shift from convivial interaction to confrontation. The microphone, found to have struck Doe, is cited in the complaint as the source of immediate physical pain and ongoing emotional distress. The incident was sealed as a painful punctuation in a night that otherwise promised celebratory energy.

In the months following the incident, law enforcement reviewed the footage and determined there was insufficient evidence for criminal charges, concluding their investigation without pressing any charges against Cardi B. Despite that, Doe remains undeterred in her pursuit of civil justice. The lawsuit goes beyond an assault claim and seeks accountability not just from Cardi B but also from Drai’s Beachclub, pointing to a prior incident involving the rapper allegedly throwing a microphone at a DJ the night before. Doe’s lawsuit argues that the venue knew or should have known of this risk yet failed to prevent the repeat event.

Doe’s account details more than physical bruising. She says she suffered embarrassment, reputational damage, harassment, and enduring emotional trauma, exacerbated when the very mic that struck her was later auctioned off for nearly $100,000 an act Doe says normalized the aggression and widened the field of public humiliation. Heartfelt legal language in the filing paints a portrait of an ordeal that has left her life unmoored, suggesting the moment went far beyond an onstage altercation.

Cardi B’s response via her attorney Drew Findling was swift and scathing. He branded the lawsuit as a “transparent and pitiful attempted financial shakedown,” pointing to the earlier closure of the criminal case as evidence that no wrongdoing occurred. He emphasized that fans reading more into the suit should note that law enforcement has already spoken and absolved Cardi B in that context.

The rapper, born Belcalis Almánzar, has faced legal controversies before, including an earlier felony assault case involving bartenders in 2018. In that instance, she pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and second-degree reckless endangerment and served 15 days community service. Since then, she has remained a fixture of viral headlines, unafraid to channel controversy into public performance and personal branding.

This lawsuit raises broader questions about the evolving dynamics of live music culture. Do performers have an obligation to maintain control and foresee potential outcomes when encouraging fan participation? Is audience engagement still safe territory or a liability waiting to happen? As livestreams and viral clips continue to drive entertainment exposure, this incident challenges both artists and venues to consider where spontaneity ends and legal risk begins.

For her part, Doe is determined to hold Cardi B accountable. The lawsuit’s language suggests the goal is both personal and symbolic. Beyond compensation, she is seeking acknowledgment that no celebrity is above the law, and that even onstage bravado must reckon with the real-world impact on those who participate, willingly or otherwise.

Cardi B’s career continues to soar though not without turbulence. From chart-topping hits and major public presence to headline-making legal battles, she embodies the contemporary pop icon who operates in extremes. This lawsuit does not yet threaten her star power or touring future, but it does underscore how quickly a celebratory moment can morph into a cautionary tale.

As this legal battle unfolds, the industry watches closely. The outcome may shape how entertainers invite audience interaction, and whether venues are expected to flag high-risk patterns in artists’ behavior. For Jane Doe, this is more than a claim against a celebrity, it is a fight for personal justice and public precedent.