In a dramatic turn of events, Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist ASAP Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, was acquitted on Tuesday of two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon. The verdict, delivered after nearly three hours of jury deliberation, marks a significant relief for Rocky, who faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted.
The trial centered on an altercation between Rocky and his former collaborator, Terell Ephron, known as ASAP Relli, near a Hollywood hotel in November 2021. Relli testified that Rocky pulled a gun and fired at him, grazing his hand, during a confrontation that began as an attempt to resolve their differences. However, the defense maintained that Rocky used a prop gun, which he had been carrying for security reasons, and that Relli had exaggerated the incident to extort him and support a civil lawsuit.
No gun was presented as evidence during the trial, and Rocky did not testify in his defense. Instead, witnesses for the defense claimed that Rocky had fired blanks from the prop gun, which he had acquired during a music video shoot. The prosecution relied on surveillance footage showing Rocky holding a gun, but the lack of physical evidence and conflicting testimonies ultimately led to the not guilty verdict.
The trial was closely watched, with Rihanna, Rocky's partner and mother of his two sons, frequently attending the proceedings. Despite Rocky's wishes to shield her from the ordeal, Rihanna remained a constant presence, even bringing their children to the courtroom during closing arguments.
Rocky's acquittal comes at a pivotal moment in his career, with several high-profile projects on the horizon. He is set to headline the Los Angeles stop of the Rolling Loud festival in March and has been named a celebrity chair for the Met Gala in May. Additionally, he will star alongside Denzel Washington in a Spike Lee-directed film scheduled for release this summer.
The verdict also complicates Relli's ongoing civil lawsuit against Rocky for damages and a defamation suit against Rocky and his lawyer, Joe Tacopina. Following the acquittal, Tacopina expressed skepticism about the future of these legal actions, stating, "He sued us and after today, I don’t think that’s going so well."
Main Image: ASAP Rocky embracing Rihanna and his lawyer after the verdict.
Source:
Jonathan Abrams, New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/arts/music/asap-rocky-not-guilty-assault-trial.html