After weeks of anticipation, Rihanna has finally spoken out following her boyfriend A$AP Rocky’s not guilty verdict in his felony shooting trial.
The pop superstar took to her Instagram Stories to share a heartfelt message of gratitude, thanking God for the outcome.
Emotional Moment in the Courtroom
The emotional weight of the trial came to a head as the verdict was read aloud in the Los Angeles courtroom.
Rihanna, who shares two young children with the rapper, was visibly overcome with emotion and broke down in tears as A$AP Rocky rushed over to embrace her.
The courtroom erupted into applause as the couple clung to each other, overwhelmed with relief.
A$AP Rocky Expresses Gratitude
Outside the courthouse, A$AP Rocky thanked both God and the jury for their role in securing his freedom.
“Thanks y’all for saving my life,” the rapper told the jury before leaving the building.
The jury deliberated for about three hours following closing arguments before delivering their unanimous verdict.
The Trial Details and Self-Defense Claims
A$AP Rocky was facing serious charges after prosecutors accused him of firing two shots at his former friend, A$AP Relli. Relli testified that he was not seriously injured, aside from a bullet grazing his knuckle.
Rocky’s defense team argued that the shots fired were blanks from a prop gun used during a music video shoot, and that he had acted in self-defense.
Rihanna’s Support Throughout the Trial
Rihanna was a constant presence in the courtroom, offering her unwavering support to her boyfriend.
The Barbados-born singer was seen sitting alongside Rocky’s mother, Renee Black, and sister, Erika B. Mayers, on several occasions.
For the closing arguments, Rihanna even brought their young children, RZA and Riot Rose, to court.
Jurors and the Impact of Celebrities
Throughout the trial, there was speculation about how Rihanna’s presence might influence the jurors.
The prosecution’s closing arguments urged the jury to focus solely on the facts and not be swayed by the celebrity aspect of the case.
Deputy District Attorney John Lewin suggested that Rihanna’s presence with the children was an attempt to manipulate the jury’s emotions.
Rocky’s Defiance Against Plea Deal
Before the trial, A$AP Rocky was offered a plea deal that would have seen him serve six months in jail, but he turned it down, maintaining his innocence.
His attorney, Joe Tacopina, praised the jury’s quick and decisive verdict, stating they saw through what he described as a “mirage of a case.”
A Tense Moment Before the Verdict
As the moment of truth approached, A$AP Rocky arrived more than 30 minutes late for the verdict reading.
Tacopina described his client as “shaken” and “tense” before hearing the verdict, unsure whether he would be heading to prison or going home.
When the verdict was finally read, the emotional release was palpable, and Rocky’s leap into the crowd was described as a raw display of emotion that left even his legal team stunned.
The Road Ahead for A$AP Rocky and Rihanna
With the trial now behind them, the couple can begin to move forward from what has been a highly public and emotional ordeal.
Despite the intense legal battle, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky can now focus on their family and their future together.