LOS ANGELES — Rihanna made her first appearance in court during the critical stages of her partner A$AP Rocky’s trial, where significant testimony was delivered regarding an alleged shooting incident involving Rocky and a former friend. The pop icon, who shares two young sons with the rapper, was seated discreetly between Rocky’s mother and sister to evade the courtroom cameras. Security escorted her in quietly early Wednesday morning in downtown Los Angeles.
Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Athelston Mayers, faces two felony charges for allegedly firing a gun at Terell Ephron, known as A$AP Relli. If found guilty, Rocky could face up to 24 years in prison. During the court proceedings, Rihanna observed as Relli recounted the events that led to the alleged shooting on a Hollywood street in 2021.
Relli described a confrontation in which he was yelling at Rocky, who was attempting to walk away after an earlier altercation. He testified that Rocky pulled a firearm from his waistband, aimed it into the air, and fired it. “He turned around and then it was like BOOM!” Relli explained to the jury. He recalled that he felt a sensation of heat in his hand and realized he had been grazed or hit, though he did not sustain a serious injury.
The key witness indicated that after the first shot rang out, he sought cover behind a friend who was with Rocky. He claimed not to have seen Rocky fire the second shot before the rapper fled the scene. During the jury selection process, prosecutors inquired if Rihanna’s presence would influence jurors’ ability to render an impartial decision. While most jurors were familiar with Rihanna, they asserted it wouldn’t impact their judgments.
Rihanna, dressed in a long black coat-like dress and wearing glasses, remained mostly out of sight during the testimonies. Earlier in the trial, Relli expressed that he and Rocky’s close friendship had suffered due to Rocky’s rise to fame, resulting in a deteriorated relationship leading up to the incident. Relli harbored feelings of anger when Rocky allegedly brandished a firearm at him during their confrontation.
Rocky’s legal representative argued that the shots fired by Rocky were not from a real weapon but rather from a starter pistol carrying blank ammunition. The defense suggested Relli’s confidence in confronting Rocky stemmed from knowing this fact. However, Relli countered, stating, “Oh, it was a real gun,” emphasizing that he recognized the danger from the injury to his hand.
Since the incident and his decision to provide testimony to the police, Relli has reportedly received death threats and faced backlash in his community for being perceived as a snitch, resulting in a setback in his music management career. He conveyed, “It’s been a living hell.”
After the incident, Relli returned to the scene about an hour later, collecting two shell casings which he documented. Though the police initially found no evidence of gunfire at the scene, Relli later texted Rocky, confronting him about the shooting. Rocky denied the allegations, insisting, “Bro wtf is u talkin bout why u tell ppl I shot at u.” Furthermore, Rocky dismissed Relli’s claims as attempts to fabricate a story for personal gain.
The court session concluded after only a few hours due to scheduling conflicts. Rihanna discreetly exited through a restricted area, while Rocky departed through a different courtroom entrance. The defense is set to begin cross-examining Relli on the following day.
Rocky, 36, first gained recognition in the hip-hop scene during 2011 and achieved mainstream success with his debut studio album topping the Billboard 200 in 2013. He has an exciting year ahead with various noteworthy projects, including a Grammy nomination for his song “Tailor Swif,” an appearance at the prestigious Met Gala, and a leading role opposite Denzel Washington in an upcoming Spike Lee film. However, the looming reality of a potential conviction weighs heavily on these professional opportunities.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, also 36, are parents to two young boys, 2-year-old RZA and 1-year-old Riot. Rihanna revealed her pregnancy with Riot during the Super Bowl halftime show in 2023, showcasing her baby bump to the world. The couple’s relationship began when Rocky contributed to Rihanna’s 2012 hit “Cockiness (Love It)” and they performed it together at the MTV Video Music Awards, eventually officially becoming a couple in 2020.
