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Cardi B Fires Back After Lawyer Accuses Her Of Treating Court Hearings 'Like A Runway Show'

“Why are you worried about the way I dress?” Cardi B recently said in response to a critic.

By Sharon Lynn Pruitt

Cardi B had a lot to say to a lawyer who recently blasted her for her courtroom ensembles.

Joe Tacopina, the attorney representing two women who claim that Cardi B orchestrated an attack on them last year, said last week that the “I Like It” rapper “treats her trips to the courthouse like a runway show," during an interview with the New York Post. 

“Here’s a woman who got indicted by a grand jury with felony charges, and appears to only be concerned about what she’s wearing,” he said. “There’s going to be a ‘Come to Jesus’ moment with her, because it’s not consistent with someone who’s taking this seriously.”

The 26-year-old hip hop star fired back at the criticism in a series of Instagram videos on Sunday that have since been deleted, Billboard reports.

“I don’t dress inappropriate when I go to court. I dress like a young f--king lady,” she reportedly said. “Where am I supposed to get my suits from, H&M? Why are you worried about the way I dress?”

She went on to claim that there were times where she appeared in court wearing no makeup at all.

“That just goes to show you that y’all do this s--t for press,” she said. “I went to court six times already for a f--king misdemeanor. There was one time I went to court with no makeup on. Just motherf--king ChapStick.”

Cardi B, born Belcalis Almanzar, was charged in October with with two misdemeanors counts of reckless endangerment and one misdemeanor count of assault for allegedly arranging an attack against two bartenders, sisters Sarah and Rachel Wattley, who also go by the names Jade and Baddie Gi.

Cardi B was later hit with felony charges of attempted assault over the August 2018 bar brawl, according to Page Six. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges, but could face up to four years in prison if convicted, the outlet reports.

The rapper has made numerous court appearances in relation to the case over the past year. In one video posted Sunday, she defended her choice to wear a fur coat to a January court appearance, according to the New York Post.

“It was 14 degrees outside, so it’s like I either could wear a bubble coat or a fur coat,” she said. “So I put on a fur coat, and that still bother you?”

She also remarked on the fact that her court appearances routinely draw crowds of supporters and reporters, saying, “I cannot control that there’s 100 cameras outside every single time I go to court."

Aside from representing Cardi B’s accusers, Tacopina has also represented rapper Meek Mill, who has become a vocal advocate for prison reform due to his own experiences with the criminal justice system.

“You are a lawyer that represents an artist that’s standing up for prison reform,” Cardi B said, according to Billboard. “Something that I have donated money to and [you’re] worried about what a woman is putting on her body when she goes to f--king court?”

Cardi B’s attorney Jeff Kern also defended his client’s wardrobe choices, telling the Post, “The most important thing is for them to feel comfortable on the witness stand. I want them to be them and not channel me.”

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