Cardi B’s ex-manager has taken aim at the pregnant rapper, insisting her new breach of contract countersuit is full of “lies and distortions”.

Klenord Raphael, also known as Shaft, initially sued Cardi for $10 million (£7.5 million) in April, accusing the former stripper of allegedly turning her back on him after he put her on the path to fame.

“The outright lies and distortions in her claims make you shake your head,” the spokesperson continues, alleging her suit is all part of a smear campaign devised by “Cardi B and her team to defame and injure Shaft, the one person who saw promise in her, invested time and resources in her and succeeded in making her rich and famous”.

Cardi’s publicist has declined to respond to the fiery statement.