Comedian and ‘Daily Show’ Host Josh Johnson’s Cardi B Trial Joke Goes Viral

Cardi B was recently at the center of an assault trial, for which she was found not guilty.

The trial made headlines and inspired memes, particularly following the plaintiff’s attorney, Ron Rosen’s questioning of Cardi, who was accused of scratching the plaintiff’s face, attempting to swing at her but missing, body shaming her, calling her a racial slur, and spitting on her in 2018.

Cardi was pregnant at the time of the alleged confrontation with the plaintiff, Emani Ellis, who was working as a security guard at an obstetrics and gynecology facility in Beverly Hills.

Comedian and newly minted The Daily Show host, Josh Johnson, made light of the incident during a stand-up set.

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Imitating Rosen, Johnson says, “‘You’re saying that you felt threatened by my client? I’m wondering why you felt so threatened? What was the issue?’ Then, Cardi B says, ‘I was pregnant and she’s coming at me. I think she wants to beat me up, and I’m pregnant, hello? Hello?’”

“And then he goes, ‘Hello? Hello? Hello, I’m here.’ And that’s when it occurred to me that maybe what’s happening is that this security guard’s lawyer…potentially has never met a Black person.”

“I think if you’ve never met a Black person in your life and your first Black person is Cardi B, that’s a bit of a crash course. That would be like if I never met a white person in my life. … Then my first white person ever was Billy Nye the Science Guy.”

During the trial, Rosen also asked Cardi if her hair was real, to define the word “altercation,” to repeat profanities at the plaintiff, and if Ellis is “bigger” than the rapper.

The jury unanimously found the rapper not guilty of assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence, among other charges.

Cardi, of course, capitalized on the viral moment with a limited-edition, one-time run print of “Courtroom Edition” variants of her upcoming album, Am I the Drama? which is slated for a Sept. 19 release.

Only July 22, Johnson, who has been writing for The Daily Show since 2017, debuted as a show host.