A$AP Rocky, the 36-year-old rapper, collapsed into Rihanna’s arms after hearing “not guilty.” His relief was palpable, and the love between the couple was on full display as they embraced in front of a packed courtroom.
Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, had been facing two felony charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. If convicted, he could have been sentenced to 24 years in prison.
The charges against A$AP Rocky originated from an altercation on November 6, 2021, where Ephron alleged that Rocky fired a semiautomatic firearm at him during a dispute. Ephron claimed that one of the bullets grazed his hand. The defense countered these allegations by asserting that Rocky had used a prop gun, incapable of firing live ammunition, which he had obtained from a music video set for security purposes. This claim was supported by testimonies from fellow A$AP Mob members, A$AP Twelvyy and A$AP Lou.
Throughout the nearly four-week trial, Rocky maintained his innocence, insisting that the firearm in question was a prop gun carried for security reasons. No physical evidence of a shooting was found at the scene, but Relli later presented shell casings to police, claiming he collected them himself.
When the jury delivered the not-guilty verdict, the courtroom erupted. Rocky nearly lost his footing, grabbing his lawyers for support before turning to Rihanna and his family in the front row. Overcome with emotion, he lunged toward Rihanna, who clung to him as if she’d never let go. Video footage captured the heartfelt moment, with Rihanna pressing her lips together and holding Rocky tightly as his family joined the embrace.
Once he regained his composure, Rocky turned to the jury and thanked them, saying,
“You saved my life.”
Rihanna, 36, had been by Rocky’s side throughout the trial, even bringing their two children—RZA, 2, and Riot, 1—to court last week. Her unwavering support was evident not just in the courtroom but also online. Following the verdict, she took to Instagram Stories to share her feelings:
“The glory belongs to God and God alone! Thankful, humbled by his mercy.”
During jury selection, Relli’s attorneys even raised concerns about Rihanna’s presence, questioning whether her global star power would be distracting. But she remained steadfast, proving that her focus was solely on Rocky’s well-being.
Outside the courthouse, Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, had strong words for the prosecution. He called for the Los Angeles District Attorney to investigate Relli for perjury and extortion, arguing that the evidence against Rocky was weak from the start.
“They have him admitting to perjury. They have him committing extortion. This jury saw through it and came to an enormously quick and speedy verdict, the right verdict,”
Tacopina said.
He also expressed deep admiration for Rocky and Rihanna, calling them “the greatest people” and admitting that he got emotional while closing his arguments.
“I love them. This is one of the happiest days of my life, and I’m happy for them that they’ve earned this and deserve it.”
Fans of A$AP Rocky and Rihanna celebrated the verdict, expressing joy and relief across various social media platforms. Conversely, some critics questioned the influence of celebrity status on legal outcomes, debating whether the verdict might have differed for a less prominent individual. This discourse has ignited broader conversations about the intersection of fame, justice, and media representation.
The trial parallels other instances where rap artists have faced legal challenges, such as the recent case involving Young Thug. In that situation, the prosecution’s reliance on song lyrics and public personas as evidence sparked debates about artistic expression and its potential misinterpretation within the judicial system. These cases collectively prompt reevaluating how the legal system approaches and prosecutes artists based on their creative outputs.
