Rapper A$AP Rocky has been found not guilty of firing a gun at a former friend.
A jury in Los Angeles acquitted the musician, whose legal name is Rakim Mayers, on two felony assault charges that carried up to 24 years in prison.
Terell Ephron claimed the Grammy-nominated hip-hop star opened fire at him during an argument on a Hollywood street on 6 November 2021, grazing his knuckles with one of the shots.
Mr Mayers, who is also a fashion mogul and the longtime partner of pop star Rihanna, denied the charges, arguing that the weapon was a prop gun and that his former friend, who calls himself A$AP Relli, was only after money.
As the first not-guilty verdict was read on Tuesday, the court rang with screams and clapping. Mr Mayers rushed towards his family and partner Rihanna, who were seated behind him. He dived over a wooden barrier to embrace them.
He hugged his lawyers and appeared to have tears in his eyes as the second not-guilty verdict was read.
“Thank God for saving my life,” Mr Mayers said aloud. He thanked members of the 12-person jury.
The rapper was arrested on the two felony assault charges after a heated argument with his former friend in the heart of Hollywood.
Mr Mayers and Mr Ephron have known each other since high school in New York and were part of the A$AP Mob hip-hop collective.
Their friendship cooled as A$AP Rocky’s career took off.
Authorities said Mr Ephron met Mr Mayers on 6 November 2021, a day after the pair had a disagreement, outside a hotel about a block from the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The rapper is set to release his first solo album in nearly a decade and is scheduled to co-headline Los Angeles’ Rolling Loud festival in March 2025.
In May, he is set to co-chair the 2025 Met Gala alongside big names like Anna Wintour, British race car driver Lewis Hamilton, singer Pharrell Williams and basketball superstar LeBron James.
Additionally, he stars alongside Denzel Washington in Spike Lee’s upcoming film “Highest 2 Lowest,” slated for a summer release.
His longtime partner, singer Rihanna, has attended court intermittently. She was in the courtroom on Tuesday as the verdict was read.
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