The Bodak Yellow hit-maker had a golf ball-sized lump on her head and wasn’t wearing shoes when security guards escorted her out of the star-studded bash at The Plaza Hotel in New York City.

Moments earlier a video from another attendee, Access Online correspondent Liliana Vasquez, captured the tense altercation between the two rap powerhouses who had just come off the red carpet.

Witnesses reported that Cardi B ‘aggressively approached’ [Nicki’s] table and told the Pinkprint rapper: ‘Let me tell you something,’ intending to ‘address the lies Nicki was spreading’.

Security guards managed to block the new mom as she appeared to lunge at Nicki before unsuccessfully launching a shoe at her head. Police were reportedly called on Cardi.

Immediately following the incident, Cardi B – whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar – took to Instagram to release a profanity-laden statement vaguely explaining her actions.

A source told Page Six: ‘It was bad. They were separated by security, but Cardi was still trying to get at her. She took off a giant red shoe and threw it at Nicki — who was being blocked up against a wall by huge security guard.’

There are conflicting reports as to what started the altercation, with one source saying that it began after Cardi was shoved from behind, sending her ‘flying’.

Another source, however, said Cardi instigated the fight, which led to her dress being ripped down the back, exposing her buttocks.

One witness claimed that both stars’ entourages got involved in the mayhem.

‘Cardi’s standing there with her dress ripped and underwear showing and yelling with a bunch of guys holding her back,’ the source said.

The security personnel who intervened in the tense altercation are said to have ‘elbowed [Cardi] in her face’, according to TMZ, resulting in the large bump seen just above her left eye.

A Page Six source also reported: ‘There was a giant fist full of hair on the floor,’ after the scuffle, and ‘One of Cardi’s assistants came and grabbed it and took it with her.’

In her Instagram post, Cardi B wrote: ‘I’ve let a lot of s**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 threaten (sic) other artists in the industry, told them if they work with me you’ll stop f**kin with them!! I let you talk bit s**t about me!! I addressed you a second time in person, and every time you copped the 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**kin off! I’ve worked to (sic) hard and come too far to let anybody f**k with my success!!!!

‘B***hes talk all that sh*t in they raps but in real life they p***y. This sh*t really is for entertainment.’

In her rant she also appeared to state that the women who alleged her crew attacked them are just seeking publicity.

According to TMZ, Cardi was accused of ordering her entourage to attack sisters Jade and Baddie Gi at Angels Strip Club in New York.

However, at the time she denied the accusations and labelled the pair ‘clout chasers’ and went onto rubbish speculation that her husband had cheated on her with Jade, who works as a bartender at the club with her sister.

While they admit Cardi did not physically attack them,  the pair have hired lawyer Joe Tacopina, who has said they are considering filing a lawsuit against Cardi.

Minaj also took to Instagram after the incident but was seemingly not bothered as she shared photos of herself enjoying the evening without reference to the altercation.

The supposed feud between Cardi and Nicki dates back to 2017, when the two artists began taking hits at each other in various songs, interviews and on social media.