Hip-hop sensation A$AP Rocky, who shares a longstanding relationship with pop star Rihanna, was acquitted in a firearm-related trial, thereby steering clear of a potential 24-year prison sentence. Jurors ruled him not guilty of firing a weapon at a previous friend on a Hollywood street in 2021.
On Tuesday, A$AP Rocky leapt from his seat to embrace Rihanna as the courtroom clerk announced the not guilty verdict. The Los Angeles courtroom, filled with fans of both the rapper and his iconic partner, erupted with joyful cheers as the couple celebrated, tears streaming down their faces.
Following a three-week trial, it took the jury only three hours to deliver a verdict that saved Rakim Mayers, known professionally as A$AP Rocky, from a decades-long imprisonment.
“Thank y’all for saving my life,” he expressed to the jurors on their way out of the courtroom. Amidst the excitement, the clerk took a moment to read the second not guilty decision, even though it was improbable that the jury would reach a split verdict. Just before the trial began, Rocky rejected a plea deal that would have resulted in a six-month jail term plus probation and other conditions in exchange for pleading guilty to one count.
Betting on his innocence, Rocky chose to trust that the jury would see it his way, and it turned out he was right. The jury concluded there was at least reasonable doubt regarding his guilt.
Rihanna, visibly emotional, hugged Rocky’s defense team alongside him. Her attendance at the trial was sporadic, but she was present with their two sons—2-year-old RZA Athelston Mayers and 1-year-old Riot Rose Mayers—for some of the concluding arguments.
At the peak of his popularity, if not his musical career, Rocky’s verdict coincides with numerous future commitments free from the shadow of incarceration. The three-time Grammy nominee, recognized for his influence in fashion and film, is set to headline the Rolling Loud music festival this March. Additionally, he is slated as a co-chair for the Met Gala in May and stars alongside Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s upcoming film “Highest 2 Lowest,” releasing early summer.
The prosecution claimed the altercation with former friend A$AP Relli, a member of their high school crew, A$AP Mob, led to Rocky firing the gun on November 6, 2021, after a scuffle. Relli alleged he was grazed by a bullet, though his injury wasn’t severe.
During the trial, Rocky’s attorney Joe Tacopina painted Relli as “an angry pathological liar” who repeatedly committed perjury.
The defense argued Rocky wielded a prop gun, meant for shooting blanks, which he carried after retrieving it from a music video set months prior. The gun was reportedly fired to deter Relli, who they claimed was assaulting another crew member. The jury was informed that the fake gun wasn’t mentioned in three years, only being revealed at the trial’s start.
Instructions to the jurors stated if they believed Rocky or his friends faced imminent danger, and that he reacted reasonably, they should acquit him. The verdict’s basis remains uncertain, as they didn’t have to disclose whether they believed it involved a prop gun or self-defense.
Rocky opted not to take the stand. In closing arguments, Deputy District Attorney John Lewin cautioned the jurors against being swayed by celebrity status or familial elements, implying that Rihanna bringing their children was a ploy to influence them.
“You can’t consider the potential impact on Rihanna and their kids,” the prosecutor stated. “Everyone must be accountable for their actions.”
Post-verdict, Tacopina remarked outside the courthouse that “Rocky did not want her here, I will tell you that.” He continued, “Wild horses couldn’t keep her away. I can’t imagine this has been anything but a life-altering experience for them.”