• A$AP Rocky is an American Rapper
  • He is currently dating singer Rihanna
  • Rocky was just acquitted after a three-week trial
A$AP Rocky was acquitted
A$AP Rocky was acquitted after a three-week-long trial. Credit: IMAGO/ SOPA Images

A courtroom erupted into cheers on 18 February as rapper A$AP Rocky was acquitted after a three-week-long trial.

The rapper, real name Rakim Mayers, shared his joy with his girlfriend Rihanna, as footage from the Los Angeles courtroom showed him hugging her. Rocky and Rihanna, real name Robyn Fenty, have been dating since 2020 and have two children.

Rihanna reacted to the news on her Instagram story.

The singer wrote: “The Glory belongs to God and God alone! Thankful…Humbled by his mercy!” Rocky thanked the 12 jurors and people gathered outside the courthouse. He said: “We want to thank God first. This is crazy right now.”

He continued, “I’m thankful and blessed to be here right now, to be a free man talking to y’all.”

The internet was also abuzz after the trial ended, and people took to social media to react to the news. Many gave good wishes to Rocky and Rihanna, while others laughed at his bizarre diving into the gallery moment.

If there’s any moment for a Titanic celebration, it is now. Plus, Rocky has a big event coming up, he is one of the co-chairs for this year’s Met Gala.

Read More: The Met Gala 2025: All we know about it so far

Social media’s reaction

Reactions poured in on the news online. One fan joked on X that Rocky had a “rocky” week but that he’s “going home ASAP”. Ok, that one is funny, we’ll admit.

Meanwhile, another user celebrated the news with a video of people cheering.

Many users were more focused on how he hugged Rihanna, which went viral online for the dramatics.

Speaking of Rihanna, the main reaction on X to the verdict was that people wanted Rihanna to release an album to celebrate. It’s been almost 10 years since Anti, we aren’t getting that album.

With the internet abuzz about Rocky’s trial verdict let’s break down what he was accused of.

What was A$AP Rocky accused of?

Met Gala 2025 A$AP Rocky and Rihanna
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky at the 2023 Met Gala. Credit: IMAGO

The rapper was acquitted of two felony assault charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. The charges could have landed him 24 years in prison.

He isn’t the only rapper to be subjected to such a public trial, in August 2023 rapper Tory Lanez was sentenced to 10 years for the same charge among others.

Lanez was found guilty on three felony charges, including one charge Rocky was accused of. The trial was highly publicized since Lanez was accused of shooting his friend and fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion. But back to Rocky.

On 6 November 2021, Terell Ephron said the Fashion Killa singer open-fired at him on a Hollywood street during an argument. Ephron also alleged that one of the shots grazed his knuckle.

In April 2022, Rocky was arrested at LAX in connection with the November shooting.

What was A$AP Rocky’s defence?

A$AP Rocky court
ASAP Rocky is seen at the Superior Court of Los Angeles. Credit: IMAGO/Cover Images

The 36-year-old denied the charges against him. In his defence, he argued that the weapon in question was a prop gun.

Also in his defence, he said that Ephron was only after money. His net worth is somewhere around $2o million.

What did A$AP Rocky do, according to prosecutors?

The shooting in question on 6 November was related to the argument the two had the previous day. Authorities had said that Rocky met Ephron outside a hotel near The Hollywood Walk Of Fame and another altercation occurred.

During this altercation, Rocky reportedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at Ephron and said: “I’ll kill you right now”.

Ephron testified this to the court. He also said he encouraged the rapper to fire the weapon but walked away. After that, Ephron started to follow him and shout at him. The prosecution said at this point the rapper pulled out the gun again and fired multiple shots, including the one that grazed Ephron’s knuckles.

The contention of the trial was whether the gun was real. Since the weapon was never recovered by authorities, its authenticity couldn’t be verified.

The shooting and evidence

Footage was included of the altercation which was caught on CCTV, but no video evidence of a shooting, according to the BBC. There was only audio of the gunfire.

The debate around Ephron’s actions after the shooting was also heard in court. Ephron took two days to report the incident and brought shell casings he said were from the scene. Law enforcement said that in the area they never located shell casings on the scene. Ephron said he went back to look with his girlfriend, but there was no footage of him there.

Rocky’s defence team alleged that Ephron must’ve planted the shell casings to frame the rapper.

The trial began on 24 January and ended on 19 February after three weeks.

Now that it’s over, Rocky will move on to his projects. Alongside co-chairing the 2025 Met Gala, he will release an album sometime this year. Additionally, he starred in the comedy If I Had Legs I’d Kick You which was released in January 2025.

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Sophie Humphrey
Sophie Humphrey is a freelance writer and journalist. Sophie has seven years experience in journalism and has a keen interest in pop culture and entertainment. Sophie has worked for the likes of Time Out London, The Upcoming and Screen rant.
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