Eyewitnesses were convinced Cardi B and Nicki Minaj "might hug it out" before they started fighting at New York Fashion Week on Friday.
The pair were involved in a scuffle at the Harper's Bazaar ICONS party on Friday when Cardi approached Nicki and accused her of badmouthing her and disparaging her skills as a mother. Cardi reportedly launched a shoe at Nicki, 35, before she was stopped by the rapper's security.
A party guest told People magazine: "It all happened 20 seconds after Kelly Rowland left Nicki Minaj - she was in between them. She said hi to both of them first. [I thought they] might hug it out [and then] it all went down.
"Cardi walked towards Nicki and all of a sudden Cardi started screaming something about her child. She was yelling, 'Bitch you feisty. Bitch don't talk s**t about my child' at Nicki."
Following the scuffle, Cardi took to Instagram to slam Nicki, saying: "I've let a lot of sh*t slide. I let you sneak diss me. I let you lie on me. I let you attempt to stop my bags, f**k up the way I eat! You've threatened other artists in the industry, told them if they work with me you'll stop f**king with them! I let you talk big s**t about me. I addressed you once in person, I addressed you a second time in person and every time you copped a plea!! But when you mention my child, you choose to like comments about me as a mother, make comments about my abilities to take care of my daughter is when all bets are f***ing off! I've worked too hardand come too far to let anybody f**k with my success!!! Bitches talk all that sh*t in they raps but in real life they p**sy. This s**t really is for entertainment."