ASAP Rocky’s future hangs in the balance as his felony assault trial reaches its final stage. This week, the jury will begin deliberating whether the rapper is guilty of two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
After weeks of testimony, closing arguments were made on Friday, with Rihanna, Rocky’s longtime partner, appearing in court. Prosecutor John Lewin took note of her presence, telling jurors they must focus on the facts: “You are not allowed to consider how this might affect Rihanna and his kids.”
The case stems from a 2021 altercation between Rocky and his former friend ASAP Relli, who alleges that Rocky fired shots at him. Rocky insists he was carrying a fake gun for self-defense and that Relli was the aggressor. His defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, challenged Relli’s reliability, asking the jury, “Would you trust this man’s word with the most important decision of your life?”
If convicted, Rocky faces up to 24 years behind bars. Despite the legal turmoil, he continues preparing for his next album, Don’t Be Dumb.
