LOS ANGELES — Rihanna made her debut appearance at the trial of her long-term partner, A$AP Rocky, coinciding with a pivotal moment in the proceedings. It was on this day that a former friend described the incident in which Rocky allegedly fired a gun at him.
The internationally acclaimed singer, who shares two young sons with the rapper, seated herself out of the view of the courtroom’s cameras, positioned between Rocky’s mother and sister at the downtown Los Angeles criminal courthouse. To avoid the throng of fans and media, security facilitated her discreet entrance on Wednesday morning.
Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Athelston Mayers, has been on trial for two felony charges connected to an incident involving his former friend, known as A$AP Relli, whose birth name is Terell Ephron. Should he be found guilty, Rocky faces a potential prison sentence of up to 24 years.
During the proceedings, Rihanna observed as Relli recounted the moment he claims Rocky fired a gun at him along a Hollywood street in 2021. Relli testified that he had been angrily confronting Rocky, who was attempting to walk away after an earlier altercation, when Rocky allegedly produced a handgun from his waistband, brandishing it in the air. Relli described the moment vividly: “He turned around and then it was like BOOM!” he said, explaining the surreal nature of the experience. He recounted feeling intense heat in his hand and later confirmed he had been hit, or grazed, without any significant injury.
The key witness shared that he sought shelter behind another friend present with Rocky after hearing the initial gunshot. He admitted he didn’t see the second shot fired and noted that Rocky fled shortly afterward.
As jurors were being selected, the prosecution inquired whether Rihanna’s presence might influence their judgment regarding a guilty verdict. Many jury members were aware of her, with a significant number identifying as fans of hers, but all claimed it would not impact their verdicts. It remained uncertain if they could identify Rihanna while listening to Relli’s testimony. She was adorned in a stylish long black dress with buttons resembling a winter coat, and she wore glasses atop her head, which she put on for the prosecution’s questioning.
Earlier in the trial, which commenced on January 21, Relli indicated that although he and Rocky were once close as part of the A$AP crew, their friendship deteriorated following Rocky’s rise to fame. He described escalating tensions in their relationship leading up to the incident and expressed his anger when Rocky brandished the weapon after an altercation they had near the W Hotel. He testified that he dared Rocky to use the gun.
Following Rocky’s departure, Relli recounted his decision to chase after him, continuing to shout until the gunfire ensued. Rocky’s defense attorney argued that the shots fired were from a starter pistol, not a real firearm, suggesting that Relli was unafraid due to this potential misunderstanding.
Relli refuted this claim, stating he understood it was a real gun based on the abrasions he sustained on his hand. He believed he could confront Rocky because he assumed that Rocky had put the weapon away, reasoning that it was not likely he would shoot in such a public place.
Since the shooting and subsequent decision to approach law enforcement, Relli claimed to have faced numerous death threats and social ostracism, ruining the modest music management career he had built. “It’s been a living hell,” he asserted.
Approximately an hour after the incident, Relli returned to the scene and managed to photograph and collect two shell casings. When police responded to the shooting report, they initially found no evidence. Relli shared a text message with Rocky displayed in court in which he accused him of attempting to kill him. Rocky denied the allegations in his response.
“Bro wtf is u talkin bout why u tell ppl I shot at u,” he texted back. Relli also sent him images of the shell casings and his injured hand, while Rocky claimed Relli was fabricating stories and allegedly trying to extort him.
The court session wrapped up after only a few hours due to scheduling conflicts. Rihanna exited through a restricted exit as deputies escorted her, while Rocky left separately through the courthouse’s main entrance. Cross-examination of Relli by the defense is scheduled for Thursday.
A$AP Rocky, raised in Harlem, initially gained attention in 2011 when his rap songs took off in New York. He found mainstream success in 2013 when his debut album topped the Billboard 200. A second studio album followed in 2015, achieving similar success.
Despite the ongoing trial, he is poised for a significant year in his career, with a Grammy nomination for best music video for his song “Tailor Swif” at the upcoming ceremony, which takes place just two miles from the courthouse. In addition, he is set to headline the Rolling Loud Music Festival, star alongside Denzel Washington in a Spike Lee film, and co-chair the Met Gala in May.
However, the looming threat of conviction and a lengthy prison sentence creates tension over what should be a celebratory time. Both Rocky and Rihanna, now 36, are parents to two sons: RZA Athelston Mayers, aged 2, and Riot Rose Mayers, aged 1. Rihanna announced her second pregnancy during her halftime performance at the Super Bowl in 2023, showcasing her baby bump. The two became romantically involved in 2020 after a history dating back to her 2012 song “Cockiness (Love It),” in which Rocky featured.
