Tasha K Responds To The Verdict Blaming Payola and “The Machine”
Jurors awarded Cardi B another decisive win Tuesday in her defamation suit win over Latasha Kebe in the state of Georgia. They determined that the celebrity Youtube vlogger and her company Kebe Studios should pay the “Bodak Yellow” rapper $1.5 million in punitive damages.
The jurors also granted Cardi B’s attorneys fees to be paid in full by Latasha “Tasha K” Kebe, as Cardi B requested.
Together with the $1.25 million in actual damages assessed in Monday’s verdict, the final compensation that Kebe and Kebe Studios should pay Cardi B, the wife of Migos rapper Offset, now tops $4 million, jurors decided.
“We disagree with the verdict, and we will be filing an appeal,” Kebe’s attorney Sadeer Sabbak said in a statement Tuesday. Kebe seems to believe this was a miscarriage of justice and that her first amendment rights include being able to slander others at will.
Cardi B On Her Big Win
Cardi B had this to say, in a statement regarding the win, “After almost four years of repeated libel and slander against me, being able to walk away from this victorious brings me great happiness,” Also in writing, Cardi said,
“During this trial, all of you have learned about the darkest time in my life. That moment in time was fueled by the vile, disgusting, and completely false narratives that were repeatedly, and relentlessly, being shared online. I thought I would never be heard or vindicated and I felt completely helpless and vulnerable,” she wrote.
“I have never taken for granted the platform that my fame allows me to have, which is why for over three years I dedicated every resource I had to seek justice. And not just justice for me. The truth is that the intentional harm that was done to me, is done to countless others every day. The only difference between me and the high schooler who is being cyberbullied and lied on by their classmates is the money and resources I have access to. We collectively have to say enough is enough,” She closed.
A Courtroom Observers Catches A Cozy and Comedic Cardi B Hug
A courtroom spectator revealed that the Grammy winner was present when the verdict was announced. Once the jury left, she appeared ecstatic. She embraced her lawyer Lisa Fortune Moore first, and then her co-counsel Sarah Matz. Then, in true comedic Cardi B fashion, the mother of two pulled both lawyers into a three-way hug, according to a source.
The jury sided with the “Red Barz” rapper on all three claims of defamation, invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The damages were initially $1 million for “pain and suffering and/or reputational injury,” and $250,000 for actual medical expenses. Cardi B, who initially wanted to settle out of court, had the medical damages reduced from $250,000 to $25,000.
Cardi B Thanks Her Queen For Hearing Her Prayers
Cardi’ B’s camp initially denied requests for commentary. Instead, the rapper posted a vintage photo on Instagram. It was of her late grandmother, allegedly. The caption read, “My queen, thank you for hearing my prayers…Only you know those nights that I cried to you feeling hopeless and tired even when it seems like I have the world on my hands.”
Tasha K Blames Payola and “The Machine”
Tasha K took to her youtube platform blaming “the machine” and Payola for Cardi B’s court win. Some are calling it the Tasha K ” I Have A Dream Speech”. Tasha K appeared in white and spoke as would a true victim of discrimination. She vowed to fight even up to the supreme court level in her address.
Cardi B filed a case against Kebe under her legal name Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, alleging libel and defamation in a lawsuit in March 2019. Kebe’s alleged “campaign of slander” according to Cardi B involved false allegations including but not limited to saying the rapper has herpes, used cocaine, and worked as a prostitute.
“I felt extremely suicidal,” Cardi B testified, according to several sources. “Only an evil person could do that shit,” she said before apologizing for her language.
In her lawsuit, Cardi said Kebe’s videos garnered millions of views.
Tasha K’s Countersuit Tossed Out of Court
Back in November, Cardi B and her legal team gave the presiding federal judge a direct line to her STD test results from a California hospital. The judge went on to confirm that he “received and reviewed the records and finds that they are not helpful to the defendant (Kebe).”
Previously, Kebe countersued Cardi claiming assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Kebe held that the rapper “began to publicly trash” her online, leading to threats from fans. The judge overturned those claims over the summer.
