Cardi B has emerged victorious in her years long battle with a man claimed he was humiliated when she used a picture of his tattoo without permission.
A California man named Kevin Brophy filed the lawsuit against the “Up” rapper over the cover of her *Gangsta B**ch Vol. 1* album, claiming his distinctive back tattoo was photoshopped onto the model in the cover to make it appear as if Brophy was performing oral sex on her.
Released in 2016, the record’s cover features Cardi – real name Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar – drinking beer while holding a man’s head between her thighs.
The model between the 30-year-old’s legs consented to the shoot.
A graphic designer on the project reportedly later searched “back tattoos” on Google Images and photoshopped one onto the model; the tattoo in question – a tiger fighting a snake – turned out to be Brophy’s.
Brophy initially sued the rapper in 2017 for using his likeness without his consent, violating his right to privacy, and casting him in a “false light” that he found “highly offensive.”
The case’s trial began on Tuesday, with Brophy testifying that the cover had brought him “hurt and shame.”
During her testimony, Cardi argued that the model used in the photo looks sufficiently different to Brophy that he would not be mistaken for the model based on his tattoo.
Absolutely nuts. pic.twitter.com/qFe0m6sLaZ
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) October 21, 2022
She noted that the model is “a Black man” and Brophy is white, the model has hair and Brophy’s head is shaved.
“It’s not Mr. Brophy’s back. It doesn’t look like Mr. Brophy at all,” she told the court. “Y’all have been harassing me for $5 million.”
After just 90 minutes of deliberation, the jury cleared Cardi B of the claim that she illegally misappropriated Broohy’s likeness.
A press conference outside of the courthouse turned into pandemonium when a throng of the rap star’s fans mobbed her.
I just won this lawsuit …Im soo emotional right now 🥲…I wanna kiss Gods feet right now …..IM BEYOND GRATEFUL!!!!
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) October 21, 2022