The moment the jury announced A$AP Rocky was ‘not guilty,’ he couldn’t hold back. He practically collapsed toward Rihanna, overcome with relief.
It was a huge emotional moment — he had been staring down the possibility of a serious jail sentence after rejecting a plea deal.
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The judge had made it clear: no special treatment if he chose to stand trial.
A$AP Rocky faced serious allegations and a high-stakes trial
Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, had been in court over accusations that he fired a gun at his former friend A$AP Relli (Terell Ephron) back in 2021.
He was arrested for it in April 2022, but in the end, the jury cleared him of two felony charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
The plea deal that could have changed everything
There was an offer on the table — a plea deal. If he had taken it, he would have done six months in prison, plus probation, community service, a suspended sentence, and a year of anger management. But he refused.
He was firm in his innocence, saying he would ‘respectfully decline.’ If the trial had gone the other way, he could have been looking at up to 24 years behind bars.
What happened in Hollywood on November 6, 2021?
Prosecutors argued that on November 6, 2021, Rocky met up with Relli in Hollywood and pulled a gun, firing two shots. Relli claimed one of the bullets grazed his knuckles.
Rocky’s defense, though, told a different story. They said the gun was actually a prop loaded with blanks and that Rocky fired it as a warning because Relli had been attacking someone.
The jury had doubts about the prosecution’s case
One major red flag for the jury? The claim that the gun was fake only came up three years later — right when jury selection was starting.
The jury was also told they could find Rocky not guilty if they believed he or his two friends were in real danger and used reasonable force to defend themselves.
In the end, the jury decided there was enough doubt in the case, and they ruled Rocky not guilty.
His reaction to the verdict was pure relief
The second the verdict was read, Rocky bolted toward his supporters in the courtroom.
He hugged Rihanna and, as he left, turned to the jury and said, “Thank y’all for saving my life.”
A$AP Rocky speaks out after the trial
Outside the courthouse, he reflected on what he had been through:
“This whole experience has been crazy for the past 4 years. I’m thankful, and it’s blessed to be here right now to be a free man talking to y’all.”
Rihanna’s reaction to the verdict
Rihanna shared her feelings online, writing, “The glory belongs to God and to God alone. Thankful, humbled by His mercy.”
With the trial finally behind him, A$AP Rocky is walking free — and feeling grateful. Now, all eyes are on what’s next for him and Rihanna.
