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The courtroom fell silent as the verdict was read, but A$AP Rocky's reaction was anything but. In a moment that set social media abuzz, the rapper moved swiftly through the crowd, his destination clear.
A$AP Rocky has been found not guilty in his felony assault trial, where he was accused of firing shots at his former friend Terell Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli. The jury reached its verdict after nearly three hours of deliberation on February 18, 2025, in Los Angeles.
The 36-year-old rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, had been facing two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon over a 2021 incident near a Hollywood hotel.
Despite allegations from Ephron, no firearm was recovered by authorities. However, Ephron claimed he later found two 9-millimeter shell casings at the scene.
Sam Bassett, a criminal defense attorney, stated, “Police failed to find the gun and that became the strongest point for the defense.”
Following the not guilty verdict, Rocky immediately ran into the audience and embraced his partner, Rihanna, the mother of his children. The emotional moment was captured on video and quickly went viral.
Users across multiple platforms shared their reactions to Rocky's post-verdict embrace with Rihanna. On X, one user commented, “Who was the blonde he hugged first tho [sic]?”
Another user observed, “He hugged another girl BEFORE he hugged his woman I think you should start a fight [sic].”
Others focused on his emotional moment with Rihanna, with one stating, “the way Asap Rocky ran over and gave Rihanna a hug after the not guilty verdict >>> [sic].”
On Instagram, users had similar responses. One questioned, “Why did the blonde think he'd be running to hug her instead of RiRi [sic]??”
Another expressed, “Why do I wanna cry for this man?!” A different user echoed the sentiment, writing, “Aww the way he jumped on rihanna made me wanna cry yes [sic].”
TikTok users also reacted strongly to the viral video. One user simply wrote, “Him sprinting to her after [sic].” Others were curious about the sequence of hugs, with one asking, “who is the blonde woman [sic].” Another user focused on Rihanna's reaction, commenting, “Riri's face [sic].”
The trial, which had the potential to impact Rocky's career, concluded with his acquittal. While legal experts pointed to the lack of physical evidence as a key factor in his defense, much of the public discussion centered on his courtroom reaction and embrace with Rihanna.
Social media continues to buzz with comments on the moment, keeping the rapper at the center of online conversations.
Beyond the viral embrace, the verdict itself has sparked intense debate. After nearly three hours of deliberation, jurors cleared Rocky of felony assault charges in the 2021 shooting case, drawing strong reactions from both legal experts and the public.
Moments after the decision was read, Rocky expressed his relief and gratitude to the jury. “Thank y'all for saving my life,” he told jurors.
The case, according to The New York Times, centered on a dispute between Rocky and Relli, former high school friends and members of the A$AP Mob rap collective.
Relli testified that they agreed to meet on the evening of November 6, 2021, in a parking garage near the W Hotel in Hollywood to resolve their differences.
Relli claimed that Rocky arrived with two men — A$AP Twelvyy, born Jamel Phillips, and A$AP Illz, born Illijah Ulanger. After a brief argument, the groups separated, but the confrontation resumed moments later.
He also alleged that Rocky pulled a gun from his waistband and fired at him, grazing his right hand. Prosecutors presented surveillance footage showing Rocky holding a gun before the shooting to support their case.
“The whole thing was like a movie,” Relli testified, describing how Rocky pointed the gun downward before firing the first shot.
The defense countered Relli's claims, arguing that Rocky had fired blanks from a prop gun, which he had started carrying months earlier on the advice of a security consultant.
Witnesses, including Twelvyy, testified that Relli knew the gun was fake and that Rocky intended to protect Illz from being physically attacked.
The court never introduced a firearm as evidence, and Rocky did not take the stand during the trial. Rocky's legal team further argued that Relli exaggerated the incident to extort the rapper and bolster his case for damages in an upcoming civil trial.
Rocky's partner, Rihanna, attended the final verdict of Rocky's case. Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney John Lewin urged jurors not to be swayed by her presence.
Rocky's attorney, Joe Tacopina, later revealed that the rapper had not wanted Rihanna at the trial. “He wanted to shield her from this. Wild horses couldn't keep her away,” Tacopina added.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Rihanna attended several court sessions in support of Rocky, but once, she brought their two sons, RZA, 2, and Riot Rose, 9 months.
She arrived at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles holding Riot, while another woman carried RZA. Rocky's mother, Renee Black, and his sister were also present.
Following the news of Rocky's not-guilty verdict, social media erupted with reactions. One supporter posted, “Amen!!!!!!! Now go home to your wife and babies man I'm crying real tears!!! I'm so happy for him.”
Others speculated about the trial's outcome. One user wrote, “I know that cost Rihanna a pretty penny 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😬,” while another commented, “When you have money evidence goes missing.”
One skeptic acknowledged their initial doubt when Rocky rejected a plea deal but noted that his decision ultimately led to freedom.
A separate user expressed happiness with the trial's result for both the rapper and Rihanna, while someone else simply called him an “innocent man.”
Back in January 2025, according to ABC News, Rocky rejected a plea deal that would have required him to serve 180 days in jail, three years of probation, and other minor conditions in exchange for pleading guilty to an assault with a gun charge.
His attorney, Tacopina, confirmed the offer, stating that the rapper had no interest in accepting it because he maintained his innocence. “If convicted, he could have faced up to 24 years in prison,” Tacopina said at the time.
The attorney expressed confidence that Rocky would be vindicated and recognized the emotional toll the case had on him and his family, especially his two young children. Despite the challenges, he stressed that Rocky was ready to face the legal battle head-on.
Continuing the netizens' discussions about the outcome of Rocky's case, more users noticed one heartwarming action he made. A netizen noted that Rocky seemed to have immediately jumped toward Rihanna.
“❤️❤️🙌🙌🔥🔥yes he went to hug his wife ❤️❤️,” a different user said, while another expressed the same sentiment, “Not him diving on Riri 😭😭😭🤣.”
Rihanna responded to Rocky's acquittal by sharing a message on her Instagram Story, crediting the outcome to God and expressing her gratitude for the verdict.
The verdict clears Rocky of all charges, closing this chapter of his legal battle.
