Update: TMZ has confirmed pop star Rihanna will attend A$AP Rocky‘s criminal trial in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
The news comes after the frustrated rapper was seen shoving paparazzi outside the courthouse last week.
One photographer was overheard asking Rocky, “What’s up, felon?”
Rapper A$AP Rocky pushed past several photographers on Friday as he entered a Los Angeles court for opening statements in his assault trial.
Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, is accused of shooting a former friend near a Hollywood hotel in 2021. pic.twitter.com/7ovY7a3qyZ
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) January 24, 2025
Rihanna is a global superstar, which means security will be much tighter around the courthouse on Wednesday.
Rocky’s lawyer Joe Tacopina hopes Rihanna’s presence in the courtroom will sway the jury to acquit her man.
Rocky is accused of firing a 9mm handgun at fellow rapper A$AP Relli during a street fight outside a Hollywood hotel in 2021.
Surveillance video shows Rocky pointing a gun at Relli and firing twice. Relli says a bullet grazed his knuckle.
Tacopina admitted his client was at the scene and that he fired a gun twice. However, he said Rocky’s gun was a “prop gun” that the rapper carried for security reasons.
A$AP Relli turned over 2 shell casings to police after the shooting. Ballistics tests determined the shells were likely fired from a loaded 9mm handgun found during a search of Rocky’s Los Angeles home.
Tacopina complained that the prosecutor’s office withheld the ballistics evidence from the defense.
Tacopina asked the judge to delay the trial until his team could review the evidence. “There’s no way we can proceed with this case,” the lawyer said.
However, L.A. County Superior Court Judge Mark S. Arnold refused to delay the trial. Judge Arnold offered to take Monday off while the defense seeks their own ballistics expert to analyze the shell casings.
The state is expected to rest its case in two weeks.
Rihanna and Rocky share 2 sons, RZA and Riot Rose. She was a part of the jury selection process when potential jurors were asked if they listened to her music. Many prospective jurors said they were Rihanna fans. They were dismissed from the jury pool.
12 non-Black jurors were selected from a jury pool of 106 people.
Rocky rejected a prosecutor’s plea deal offer to serve 180 days in prison and seven years probation. He faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted on 2 felony assault charge.
