A$AP Rocky Was Found Not Guilty On Both Charges In His Felony Assault Case And Proceeded To Jump Into The Gallery To Hug Rihanna
NY Times - ASAP Rocky, the Grammy nominated hip-hop artist, was found not guilty on Tuesday of shooting a former collaborator. The jury deliberated for nearly three hours in a case that threatened to derail his career.
Rocky, 36, born Rakim Mayers, faced two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, stemming from an altercation with his one-time friend, Terell Ephron, known as ASAP Relli, near a Hollywood hotel in 2021.
Rocky dived into the gallery to hug family including Rihanna, the singer, businesswoman, and mother of his two young sons, and embraced his lawyer, Joe Tacopina, after the verdict was read.
“Thank y’all for saving my life,” he told jurors.
Hallelujah. Long-time stoolie A$AP Rocky has been acquitted, and this ridiculous trial has finally been put to rest!
After a whirlwind of accusations, dramatic testimony, and the potential of a 24-year prison sentence looming over Rocky’s head, the jury came back with a decision that let Rakim Mayers (better known as A$AP Rocky) walk free, saving both his freedom and his career in the process.
I've gone to blog it several times throughout, but no one incident was really "blog-worthy."
Instead, it was like 10-15 incidents straight out of a court room tv drama, a bad one, packed into one trial.
Concluding with one as the "not guilty" verdict was read by the jury foreman, which caused Rocky to launch himself into his wife's lap. And then another one for good measure, outside on the courtroom steps.
But most punctuated by the alleged victim's own testimony. Which was downright preposterous.
No but seriously, preposterous -
Whatever two bit LA County prosecutor got stuck with this case, and rolled the dice letting this guy take the stand and open himself up to cross-examination, you might want to trade that JD in for another overpriced piece of paper.
Real talk, never in my life watching even the worst of the worst Law & Order's, (Sidebar - The worst of them all was Law & Order: LA. Remember that disaster? Woof.) did I ever witness a defendent scream out to instruct a witness what to say/not to say, and have nothing happen.
This case was wild.
From the get-go, the prosecution’s evidence seemed weaker than a house of cards built in a hurricane.
The entire trial hinged on whether Rocky actually shot a semiautomatic firearm at his former friend, Terell Ephron (A$AP Relli). Yet, the prosecution never produced an actual gun. Not a single piece of tangible firearm evidence was presented in court.
Defense witnesses said it was a prop gun from a music video set, while the prosecution insisted it was a real semiautomatic. If it was supposedly real, you’d think we’d see more physical evidence, like bullet casings, the recovered weapon, or something. But the police never found anything whatsoever.
It's gonna be rough days ahead for ASAP Relli.
Meanwhile, A$AP Rocky teased a new album on the way, and he's working on a Spike Lee film alongside Denzel Washington titled Highest 2 Lowest.
And he gets to go home to this -
Hit the fuckin music -