October 22nd 2024.
It's been all over the news lately that A$AP Rocky, the 36-year-old rapper and fashion mogul, will be heading to trial early next year in Los Angeles. The charges against him are serious - it's alleged that he fired a gun at a former friend and collaborator near a hotel in Hollywood in 2021. As a Grammy nominee and celebrity co-chair of the upcoming Met Gala, this trial has been highly anticipated and is set to begin with jury selection on January 21.
A$AP Rocky has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Originally, the trial was supposed to start on November 12, but his legal team requested a postponement at a hearing on Tuesday. They explained that he will be headlining the Rolling Loud music festival in Thailand next month and would not be able to attend the trial. Superior Court Judge Mark S. Arnold granted the request and also announced that the trial will be aired on video cameras for the public to see.
Judge Arnold emphasized the importance of transparency and stated, "I believe that the public deserves to see what goes on in the courtroom." He even inquired about the attendance of A$AP Rocky's partner, Rihanna, who will potentially make an appearance at the trial. His lawyer, Joe Tacopina, could not confirm her attendance but mentioned that she most likely will not be there every day.
This trial has been a long time coming, with a preliminary hearing taking place almost a year ago. At that hearing, a different judge ruled that there was sufficient evidence for A$AP Rocky to stand trial for allegedly firing a gun at Terell Ephron, a childhood friend. Ephron testified that their relationship had deteriorated and that it all came to a head on the night of November 6, 2021. He also claimed that bullets grazed his knuckles.
If found guilty, A$AP Rocky could face up to 24 years in prison. However, his lawyer Tacopina remains confident that he will be cleared of all charges. He stated outside the courtroom on Tuesday, "He's eager to get to trial. Having this hanging over his head is not something he wants." Despite the delay, A$AP Rocky is determined to prove his innocence.
In the midst of all this legal drama, A$AP Rocky was also recently chosen as a celebrity co-chair for the Met Gala in May. Alongside other big names like Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, and LeBron James, A$AP Rocky is expected to attend and make a statement on the red carpet. However, the outcome of the trial could potentially affect his ability to do so. For now, we will have to wait and see what happens in the courtroom early next year.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
