In the glittering whirlwind of hip-hop royalty, where Cardi B has long reigned as the unapologetic voice of Bronx grit and Bronx swagger, a veil of vulnerability lifted on October 6, 2025. On Jay Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast, the 33-year-old rapper—fresh off confirming her fourth pregnancy with NFL star Stefon Diggs—laid bare the soul-crushing toll of estranged husband Offset’s repeated infidelity during her 2024 pregnancy with their third child. “I felt like I was going crazy,” Cardi admitted, her voice cracking as she described a spiral of gaslighting, loneliness, and physical breakdown that left her unable to eat, sleep, or properly care for her young children. This isn’t tabloid fodder; it’s a stark window into the human cost of betrayal in a marriage that produced three kids, a secret 2017 wedding, and a saga of splits and reconciliations that has captivated—and divided—fans for years. As Cardi’s divorce filing lingers in limbo, her words reignite debates on infidelity’s ripple effects, especially when a baby is on board.

The episode, timed amid Cardi’s high-profile romance with Diggs (traded to the New England Patriots in March 2025), dove deep into the emotional wreckage of her seven-year union with Offset, 33, the Migos rapper whose “Drip” empire masked personal storms. Cardi, born Belcalis Almanzar, recounted the final months of her pregnancy with daughter Blossom (born September 7, 2024), when Offset’s alleged cheating—coupled with “perpetual lying and gaslighting”—pushed her to the brink. “It wasn’t just the cheating; it was messing with my head and my body,” she told Shetty, revealing how the stress manifested in sleepless nights, appetite loss, and a haunting isolation. “I couldn’t eat—my baby came out five pounds because of it. I was lonely because I chose to be lonely, but it felt like the love was dying from both ends.” For a woman whose anthems like “WAP” and “Bodak Yellow” scream empowerment, this admission paints a portrait of fragility: a mother too drained to chase her toddlers, her empire-building halted by heartache.

Their story, a tabloid staple since their 2017 shotgun wedding after a whirlwind Super Bowl romance, has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. They share daughter Kulture (7), son Wave (3), and Blossom, but infidelity shadows every chapter. Offset’s 2018 cheating scandal—exposed via leaked texts—prompted Cardi’s brief 2020 divorce filing, which she rescinded amid co-parenting pleas. Yet, the cycle repeated: In late 2023, during her third pregnancy, rumors swirled of Offset’s dalliances, culminating in Cardi’s July 31, 2024, divorce petition citing “irreconcilable differences” and seeking primary custody. She later confirmed mutual infidelity in a fiery September 2024 X rant, responding to Offset’s accusations with a blunt “AND DID!!!!!!,” but emphasized her regrets lay solely with him: “I regret you… I’m too good for you.” By June 2025, in a TMZ-shared X Spaces audio, Cardi detailed the pregnancy’s physical scars: “The stress was so bad, it affected everything—my body, my mind.”

Experts weigh in on the science behind such trauma. Dr. Elena Vasquez, a perinatal psychologist at Mount Sinai, notes that chronic stress like Cardi’s can spike cortisol levels, leading to low birth weight (as with Blossom’s 5-pound arrival) and postpartum mood disorders. “Betrayal during pregnancy amplifies vulnerability—it’s not just emotional; it’s biochemical,” Vasquez explained to People in a 2025 feature on celebrity mental health. Cardi’s case echoes broader stats: A 2024 CDC report found 1 in 5 U.S. women experience intimate partner violence or emotional abuse during pregnancy, with Black women facing 50% higher risks due to systemic stressors. Her candor—echoing past shares on postpartum depression after Kulture’s birth—positions her as an unlikely advocate, turning personal pain into public dialogue.

The podcast revelation arrives as Cardi charts a bold new chapter. In September 2025, she announced her pregnancy with Diggs on CBS Mornings, beaming: “I’m happy… He makes me feel safe and strong.” Rumors of their flirtation began in 2024, with DJ Akademiks alleging DMs when she was eight months pregnant—a claim that fueled X firestorms, with #CardiCheated trending and debates raging over “cheating while pregnant” hypocrisy. Cardi clapped back in a September 2025 Glamour UK op-ed, slamming slut-shaming: “Pregnant women aren’t vessels—we’re people with desires, especially after years of betrayal.” Diggs, 31, a Maryland alum turned Bills star before his Pats trade, has been a steady presence; insiders say their bond sparked at a 2024 Knicks game, evolving into cohabitation by spring 2025. “He’s my rock—no games,” Cardi gushed on the podcast, crediting Shakira’s 2023 advice post their “Puntería” collab: “Women, we heal; men just replace.”

Offset, meanwhile, has stayed mum on the podcast but fired shots in August 2025 AP interviews: “It’s all love… time to move on.” His May 2025 spousal support bid—seeking 70% of Cardi’s $101.6 million net worth amid tax woes—stirred fresh drama, though fact-checks debunked exaggerated splits. The couple remains “legally separated,” with custody battles looming; Cardi prioritizes therapy for Kulture and Wave, who witnessed the fallout. “My kids saw me broken—that’s my biggest regret,” she confessed, vowing co-parenting sans romance.

Fan reactions? Polarizing. X lit up post-podcast, with #CardiStrong amassing 2 million impressions—supporters hailing her resilience (“Queens rise from ashes”), while critics piled on (“Hypocrite after her own mess”). Reddit’s r/CardiB threads dissected the double standard: “Offset cheated for years; one rumor about her, and it’s apocalypse.” Her openness boosts her brand—InStyle reports a 15% follower spike, with merch like “Invasion of Privacy” tees (nodding her 2018 album) selling out amid the buzz.

Yet, beneath the glamour, Cardi’s story spotlights deeper issues. Advocacy groups like the National Domestic Violence Hotline praised her for destigmatizing pregnancy stress, noting a 20% uptick in calls post her shares. As she preps album three—teased as “therapy in tracks”—and navigates Diggs’ NFL season, Cardi embodies reinvention. “I chose me,” she told Shetty, eyes fierce. “And damn, it feels good.”

In hip-hop’s hall of mirrors, where beefs brew and beds break, Cardi’s confession cuts through: Betrayal doesn’t just sting—it starves the soul, especially with a heartbeat inside. As Offset fades to co-parent shadow and Diggs steps into the light, one truth endures: The Bronx girl who bodied yellows now bodies her blues, one vulnerable verse at a time. For fans, it’s more than mess—it’s a masterclass in messy healing.