Rihanna Stands by A$AP Rocky in Court Amid Shooting Trial

Music and fashion icon makes rare courthouse appearance to support her partner as trial unfolds

Rihanna made a rare and striking public appearance on Wednesday, stepping into a Los Angeles courtroom to support her partner and father of her children, A$AP Rocky, as he faces trial for an alleged 2021 shooting incident.

The billionaire singer and beauty mogul arrived at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, evading the public eye as she was escorted by security into the courtroom. Dressed in all black, Rihanna sat in the gallery alongside Rocky’s mother, Renee Black, and his sister, Erika B. Mayers, according to reports from The Associated Press, The Los Angeles Times, and People magazine. Out of view of courtroom cameras, she watched as the legal proceedings unfolded, marking the first time she has publicly shown support for Rocky since the case began.

A Trial That Could Change Everything

A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Athelston Mayers, is on trial facing two felony charges for allegedly firing a handgun at his former friend and fellow A$AP Mob member, Terell Ephron, known as A$AP Relli. If convicted, the rapper could face up to 24 years in prison.

Opening statements for the three-week-long trial began last Friday, with A$AP Relli taking the stand on Tuesday to recount the alleged incident. Reports indicate that Rihanna listened attentively as Relli detailed the moment Rocky allegedly fired a gun at him on a Hollywood street in 2021.

In January 2024, Rocky pleaded not guilty to the weapons charges. His attorney, Joe Tacopina, previously expressed the rapper’s eagerness to bring the case to a close. “It’s been a long time,” Tacopina told The Associated Press after a Jan. 15 hearing. “It’s been something that’s been hanging over Rocky’s head, Rihanna’s head, and their family’s heads for a while. We’re anxious to get this thing underway and get it behind him.”

A Complicated Chapter for Rihanna and Rocky

The high-profile case undoubtedly casts a shadow over Rocky’s life with Rihanna, with whom he shares two young sons—RZA, 2, and Riot Rose, 1. The couple, whose relationship has been under the public eye since their romance began in 2020, have built a family and continued to dominate the entertainment and fashion industries.

Despite her global superstardom, Rihanna has largely kept her personal life private, making her courtroom appearance all the more significant. While the outcome of the trial remains uncertain, her presence signals unwavering support for Rocky during one of the most challenging moments of his life.

As the trial progresses, all eyes remain on the courtroom, waiting to see how this legal battle will unfold—and what it could mean for the future of the couple’s life together.