Cardi B has won the years-long lawsuit over the cover art of her debut mixtape. After several days of deliberating, a jury sided in favor with the artist.
The lawsuit was originally filed by Kevin Michael Brophy, whose tattoo inspired the featured ink on Cardi’s first mixtape, Gangsta Bitch Music Vol 1. He was originally seeking $5 million for the emotional distress he says the artwork caused.
On the cover of the mix tape, Cardi can be seen sitting down with her legs spread while drinking a Corona beer. A male model has his back turned to the camera and his head buried between her thighs, suggest he’s performing oral sex.
On his back, the male model has a prominent tattoo featuring a serpent fighting a tiger.
Speaking to the court, Kevin detailed how the art work has impacted his personal life. “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 said.
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.”
Kevin never posed for the mixtape. The art work was commissioned by Timm Gooden, who was paid $50. The artist says he Googled back tattoos to find inspiration, which is how he came across a picture of Kevin’s ink.
Cardi also testified during the trial. She argued that not only is the model on the mix tape not identical to Kevin, but that his identity isn’t decipherable solely based on the cover art.
“There is not one evidence where people believe it’s actually him,” she told the court. “He hasn’t gotten fired from his job. He hasn’t gotten a divorce. How has he suffered? … Please tell me how he’s suffered.”
She also denied Kevin’s legal team’s insinuation that the cover art contributed to her success.
“It’s really insulting to me as a woman that a man is claiming responsibility,” Cardi stated. “When it’s my voice that has made me famous since 2014. And that’s what got me here, not Mr. Brophy’s portion of a tattoo.”
Her legal team also emphasized the physical difference between Kevin and the male pictured in the mix tape – while the model is Black, Kevin is white. The model also doesn’t have tattoos going up his neck, like Kevin.
Ultimately, the jury agreed with Cardi’s team and denied Kevin a financial settlement.
Sources: Yahoo! News, Paper Magazine,
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