Celebrities are beginning to pubically take sides in A$AP Rocky’s felony assault trial, stemming from him allegedly shooting at his former friend, A$AP Relli, in 2021.
Why Is A$AP Rocky on Trial?
A$AP Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
The charges stem from a November 2021 incident in Hollywood, where A$AP Rocky allegedly fired a gun at former friend and fellow A$AP Mob member, A$AP Relli, whose real name is Terell Ephron.
A$AP Rocky’s defense is that the gun was a starter pistol he carried for safety reasons, but did not fire at A$AP Relli.
Why It Matters
If convicted on both counts, A$AP Rocky could get up to 24 years in prison. He declined a plea deal of 180 days in jail.
A$AP Relli said in court Wednesday that his life has been a “living hell” since the alleged shooting. He said he’s received death threats, been called a “snitch” and suffered career losses as a music industry manager.
Rihanna: Team A$AP Rocky
Rihanna, A$AP Rocky’s longtime girlfriend and mother of his two sons, supported him in court for the first time on Wednesday.
The Fenty Beauty billionaire and pop star entered the courthouse through a private entry, avoiding the media frenzy outside. The “Diamond” singer sat in the front row in between A$AP Rocky’s mother, Renee Black, his sister Erika B. Mayers, and security guards.
It is a standard court order for cameras in the courtroom not to show people in the gallery, thus, the public was not able to see Rihanna.
Azealia Banks: Team A$AP Relli
Singer and rapper Azealia Banks tweeted Wednesday, siding with A$AP Relli in the felony assault case.
Banks, who said she grew up in Harlem with members of the A$AP Mob, claims A$AP Rocky once brought Rihanna to Harlem and got jealous over A$AP Relli flirting with her. This, she said, is allegedly why A$AP Rocky shot at A$AP Relli.
“Relli ain’t looking for no payday he’s genuinely deeply hurt because he really believed in Rocky and considered him a friend,” she wrote.
Banks continued, “…Rocky tried to shoot Relli, and recklessly almost shot A$AP Illz. I don’t give a f–k, Rocky needs to go to jail and pay Relli with whatever money he makes.”
50 Cent: Team A$AP Rocky
Rapper 50 Cent posted a clip to Instagram on Wednesday of A$AP Relli testifying, “He [A$AP Rocky] shot the gun at me.”
“Man I hope Rockie (sic) alright this fool just want some money,” 50 Cent captioned the post. “We seen this movie before. It’s a re run, sucker a– smh.”
What People Are Saying
A$AP Rocky on Tuesday on people calling him a “snitch:” “Would you be a snitch if someone shot you?”
Superior Judge Mark Arnold implementing a gag order Tuesday in A$AP Rocky’s case: “I don’t want any attorney saying anything to the press while the case is going on. That’s it. You can call it a gag order.”
Attorney Gloria Allred to Newsweek on if Rihanna’s presence in court could sway jurors: “Although jurors are instructed by the judge to consider only the evidence admitted by the court, it is human nature for many jurors to look at a celebrity sitting in the courtroom.”
“Even though jurors should not take those facts into consideration and even if jurors state that they will not consider that, some jurors will not be able to ignore it.”
What’s Next
A$AP Relli will continue his testimony on Thursday in Los Angeles.
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