Cardi B has been awarded $350,000 by a judge from the man that accused her of using his likeness on her Gangsta Bitch Music Vol. 1 mixtape back in 2016 without his permission.
According to Law&Crime reporter Meghann Cuniff, U.S. District Judge Cormac made the ruling after nearly a year of litigation between the Bronx rap star and plaintiff Kevin Michael Brophy Jr.
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Brophy also voluntarily withdrew his motion for a new trial and waived any future efforts for an appeal under a new agreement filed in federal court, bringing an end to the long-running dispute.
“The parties now have reached an agreement avoiding the necessity of Defendants’ motion for attorney’s fees and application to tax costs and Plaintiff’s New Trial Motion,” the filing read.
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The $350,000 will be used to cover Cardi’s attorney fees, although Cuniff speculates that it most likely falls short of the full sum as the rapper hired “one of the top music copyright lawyers in the country.”
Cardi B was first sued by Brophy back in 2017 over her Gangsta Bitch Music Vol. 1 cover, which showed her sat in the back of a limousine with a male model kneeling in front of her, appearing to perform oral sex. Brophy claimed Cardi had used his back tattoo and likeness without his permission.
In October 2022, the Invasion of Privacy hitmaker was victorious in court after a jury tossed out Brophy’s accusations following a four-day trial. It was determined that Cardi B’s mixtape cover did not violate Brophy’s rights to privacy.
Brophy was seeking $5 million in damages for not only the unauthorized use of the photo, but the embarrassment he claims the “raunchy” image caused.
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“It felt like my Michelangelo was stolen off the wall and just literally ripped off and robbed and just put wherever these people wanted to put it,” he recounted previously. “It looks like I’m giving oral sex to somebody that’s not my wife, somebody that’s not my partner, and an image that I never signed off on, ever.”
He continued: “Being a father of two and a devoted husband and a man of faith as well, this goes against everything that I stand for, and I would never ever sign off on something like this.”
At the time, Cardi B took exception to Brophy’s claims that the artwork had “humiliated” him and caused him “hurt and shame,” instead alleging that he had been “harassing” her in hopes of scoring a handsome settlement.
“He hasn’t gotten fired from his job,” she pointed out in court. “He hasn’t gotten a divorce. How has he suffered? He’s still in a surf shop at his job. Please tell me how he’s suffered.”
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After her victory, Cardi shared the news on Twitter, writing: “I just won this lawsuit …Im soo emotional right now [happy cry emoji] …I wanna kiss Gods feet right now. IM BEYOND GRATEFUL!!!!”
Cardi B’s legal victory was upheld by a California federal judge last December even though Brophy attempted to demand a new trial in January to no avail.
