Even when someone thinks they’ve moved on, the legal and emotional ties of the past can cling stubbornly. In a recent livestream, Cardi B opened up about why her divorce from Offset hasn’t been finalized—revealing an unraveling story of financial demands, property fights, and what she calls being “held hostage.” The details shed new light on a breakup many thought was already settled.

The moment is raw, candid, and full of tension—because it’s not just about ending a marriage. It’s about control, power, self-worth, and the price someone demands to be free. Let’s untangle the drama, piece by piece.

A Marriage That’s Legally Over—Sort Of

Cardi says she and Offset are legally separated, but not legally divorced. That means on paper, she’s still his wife—bound by contracts, property claims, and obligations. According to her, the hold-up is not about emotions—it’s about money.

During the livestream on X Spaces, Cardi didn’t mince words:

“The only way I can get out of my marriage is if I pay for somebody else’s taxes … and give them one of my properties. I’mma fight for that.”
“On a contract, I’m practically still married, because somebody [wants to] hold me hostage, if I don’t give them millions of dollars to get out of it.”

That’s the heart of her argument: she alleges Offset is demanding financial compensation before he agrees to the divorce. She frames it as coercion—she claims the delay is intentional, not legal complexity.

Their History: On Again, Off Again, and a Public Split

To understand the stakes, we have to look back.

Cardi and Offset’s relationship has been marked by public reconciliation, breakups, and dramatic declarations. They married in 2017 and have three children together: Kulture, Wave, and Blossom.

She first filed for divorce in 2020, but they reconciled. Then again in July 2024, after announcing the end of their relationship in December 2023. In the public eye, many assumed the separation was final. But divorce—especially for high-profile couples with considerable assets and public images—is rarely as clean as the headlines. Their past attempts to part ways already showed how complicated emotions, assets, and public perception can be.

The Power Play: Taxes, Property & Control

The financial demands Cardi describes are significant. If true, they suggest a kind of bargaining: “Agree to these terms, and I’ll sign off on the divorce.” (Or refuse, and block your exit.) That kind of leverage can feel like an emotional prison.

She claims Offset is requesting that she pay his taxes—despite the fact that she insists she already pays hers—and transfer property to him. That’s no small ask: property rights and tax liabilities are high-stakes issues in divorce negotiations, especially when there are multiple homes, business interests, and revenue sources involved.

When someone threatens to withhold the final approval until financial terms are met, it throws any separation plan into limbo. You can be separated emotionally. You can move on publicly. But legally? You’re stuck.

Public Life, Private Pain

Part of the pressure here is visibility. Cardi is in the spotlight—releasing albums, going on tour, announcing pregnancies, and managing a public image. Every legal delay or accusation gets magnified. That exposure makes private legal disputes feel like national crises.

She’s already announced she’s expecting a new baby—her first with NFL star Stefon Diggs—while still technically married. That juxtaposition stirs emotion: moving forward with life, while something from the past still holds you back.

She defended her choices firmly:

“Stop saying, oh, but you’re still married. No, I’m legally separated.”
And when critics suggested this delay was about infidelity, secrets, or betrayal—she pushed back: this fight is about value. “This is not no love stuff,” she said.

When someone says their price to leave is monetary, it changes how you see the battle—not resentment, not heartbreak, but calculation.

Offset’s Side & Public Position

Offset hasn’t remained silent. He’s already recorded a song, Move On, that reflects the end of their marriage. The track is framed as a peaceful goodbye, a closing chapter. In press statements, he’s expressed a desire for “peace” and said that the relationship “was great while it lasted.”

But songs and public declarations are one thing; legal negotiations are another. And Cardi suggests that Offset’s demands are more than just words—they are becoming obstacles to finalizing their split.

Kids, Custody & The Reality of Co-Parenting

At the core of all this are the children. Regardless of how messy the divorce becomes, Cardi and Offset share three kids. Any official divorce settlement will have to address custody, child support, and how both of them remain part of their children’s lives.

Offset is reportedly seeking joint custody of their children and spousal support (though he hasn’t specified amounts). Such demands in legal papers can further complicate what seems like already difficult negotiations.

Because the kids are real. The public drama is one thing, but for them, it’s life. They deserve clarity, not chaos.

What’s Next: Possible Paths to Resolution

Given where things stand, a few possible outcomes seem likely:

A settlement
They may hammer out a private agreement: property division, tax payment, spousal support, custody—all resolved behind closed doors. Then the divorce is filed, agreed upon, finalized.
Court battle
If Offset holds his ground on demands and Cardi refuses, the matter might go to court. Judges will weigh claims, examine finances, and decide what’s fair. That could delay the divorce for months or longer.
Public pressure & negotiation
Because both are public figures, media reactions, fan commentary, and PR may influence how hard either party pushes. There is pressure on both sides to look “reasonable” in public.
Creative structuring
They might use loopholes—like legal separation instruments, dividing certain assets, or temporary arrangements—to untangle parts of the marriage without finalizing everything at once.

Understanding the Emotional Cost

Behind all this legal drama is heartbreak, frustration, and the desire to move forward. Cardi’s tone in her livestream was fierce, tired, but resolute. She repeatedly emphasized: this isn’t about love, revenge, or spite. It’s about her freedom.

Her language—“holding hostage,” “coercion,” “millions of dollars to get out”—paints a picture of someone caught not by emotion but by conditions. It’s a struggle not just over assets, but over control.

If you’ve ever walked away from a toxic situation, you understand the stakes. The final goodbye should be your choice—not one someone else extorts from you.

Final Thoughts

Cardi B’s divorce from Offset is far from over. What seemed like a closed chapter is still being written—by lawyers, public statements, private negotiations, and the people caught in between.

She wants out—and she says she should be able to walk away on her own terms, not by someone else’s demands. Whether she succeeds will depend on whether she is willing to battle, compromise, or negotiate. Either way, nothing about this separation is simple anymore.