Rihanna wasted no time in expressing her gratitude and relief after her longtime partner, A$AP Rocky, was acquitted of serious felony charges that could have sent him to prison for decades.
On Tuesday, a Los Angeles jury cleared the rapper, born Rakim Mayers, of two felony assault charges related to a 2021 incident in Hollywood. The accusations, made by his former friend Terell Ephron, carried a potential sentence of up to 24 years behind bars.
Following the verdict, Rihanna took to social media with an emotional response, writing: “THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD AND GOD ALONE! THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY!”
The high-profile case revolved around an alleged altercation between Mayers and Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli. Ephron claimed that Rocky had fired a gun at him during an argument on November 6, 2021, with one bullet reportedly grazing his knuckles.
Rihanna celebrates A$AP Rocky being found not guilty for assault:
“THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD AND GOD ALONE! THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY! 🙏🏿” pic.twitter.com/JgYIsEmdU0
— Pop Base (@PopBase) February 19, 2025
Mayers, however, denied the allegations, insisting that no real shots were fired and arguing that Ephron was motivated by financial gain.
When the not-guilty verdict was announced, cheers erupted in the courtroom. Overcome with emotion, A$AP Rocky leaped over a wooden barrier to embrace Rihanna and his family. He then turned to his legal team, his eyes welling with tears, as he heard the second acquittal.
“Thank God for saving my life,” he said, before thanking the jury for their decision.
Rihanna, who had been by his side throughout the trial, was present in court when the verdict was read. She shared a quiet moment with Rocky before they left the courtroom together, both visibly emotional.
A$AP Rocky jumps into the gallery and embraces Rihanna in an emotional moment following the reading of his Not Guilty verdict. pic.twitter.com/2vxTwINyyB
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) February 19, 2025
Now cleared of legal uncertainty, A$AP Rocky is set to return to the spotlight. He is preparing to release his first solo album in nearly a decade and will co-headline Los Angeles’ Rolling Loud festival in March 2025. Additionally, he has been selected as a co-chair for the upcoming Met Gala in May, alongside Anna Wintour, Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams, and LeBron James.
Beyond music and fashion, Rocky is also stepping into film, with a role in Spike Lee’s highly anticipated movie Highest 2 Lowest, starring Denzel Washington, set for release this summer.
