Cardi B has struck victory in court again as she just won a $5 million civil lawsuit against her regarding the cover art for her 2016 mixtape, ‘Gangsta B*tch Music Vol. 1.’
Cardi B Beats $5M Lawsuit For ‘Gangsta B*tch Vol. 1’ Mixtape Cover Art: ‘I’m Beyond Grateful’
On Friday (Oct. 21), Law and Crime News senior reporter Meghann Cuniff took to her Twitter after a jury of nine people in a federal court in Santa Ana, California returned with their verdict.
Cuniff said after three days of trial, a jury absolved Cardi of any guilt in the case — which was brought on by plaintiff Kevin “Mike” Brophy.
Brophy accused the Grammy-winning artist of using his photo for her mixtape without his permission. In October 2017, Brophy sued Cardi for $5 million over the picture featuring his prominent tiger back tattoo.
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He said Cardi knowingly used the photoshopped photo “in a misleading, offensive, humiliating and provocative sexual way to launch her career in music and entertainment.” He said it affected his marriage, family life and work life, adding that he faced ridicule because of the invasion of privacy.
Now, the photo features Cardi chugging a bottle of beer while an immediate unidentified man is seen with his face in between her legs that are spread, giving the appearance that he is performing cunnilingus on the rap star.
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For years, the suit had lingered on with Cardi’s lawyer, Alan G. Dowling refuting the claims brought on by Brophy.
Back in July 2018, a judge granted Brophy more time to address his lawsuit with the rapper.
In response, Dowling told U.S. District Court Judge Cormac J. Carney: “The suggestion that any of Cardi B’s success or income in any way arose from or is attributed to the use of the tattoo image in that early photo is simply ludicrous.
The photo of [Brophy] has been widely circulated on the internet for years, without any known copyright notice, restriction or limitation as to its use.
The plaintiff’s assertion that the album art photo depicts ‘him’ engaged in ‘sex’ with Cardi B, ‘cunnilinging’ her [plaintiff’s word], while she looks ‘lustfully’ at the camera—none of which are apparent from the picture itself—is simply a fanciful result of plaintiff’s ego and imagination running amok.”
After her victory, Cardi eventually tweeted out how grateful she was to have won. Then she went live on Instagram to further share the news and her gratitude.
On Twitter she wrote, “I just won this lawsuit ..Im so emotional right now …I wanna kiss Gods feet right now .. IM BEYOND GRATEFUL!!!”
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