LOS ANGELES (AP) — A$AP Rocky, the 36-year-old rapper, fashion icon, and Grammy nominee, is scheduled to stand trial in Los Angeles early next year. He faces allegations of firing a gun at a former friend and collaborator in the vicinity of a Hollywood hotel in 2021.
Jury selection is slated to begin on January 21, after the trial was initially set to commence on November 12. Rocky’s legal team requested the delay, citing his commitment as a headliner for the Rolling Loud music festival in Thailand happening next month. He has entered a plea of not guilty to two felony counts of assault involving a semiautomatic firearm.
During a recent hearing, Superior Court Judge Mark S. Arnold approved the presence of video cameras in the courtroom for the duration of the trial, which is expected to last approximately two weeks. “The public deserves transparency about courtroom proceedings,” the judge emphasized.
Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, noted that he is unsure whether Rihanna, Rocky’s partner and mother of his two children, will be attending the trial, but added, “I almost guarantee she won’t be there every day.” The judge expressed a desire to ensure proper security arrangements should she attend.
Nearly a year ago, following a preliminary hearing, a different judge ruled that Rocky should face trial based on allegations from Terell Ephron, a childhood friend whose relationship with Rocky reportedly deteriorated. Ephron claimed that Rocky fired towards him on November 6, 2021, resulting in bullet fragments grazing his knuckles.
If convicted on all counts, Rocky could be sentenced to up to 24 years in prison. Despite the upcoming trial, Tacopina expressed confidence in Rocky’s ability to clear his name, stating that Rocky is eager to resolve the matter, as the ongoing situation is weighing heavily on him.
Amidst these legal challenges, Rocky has been chosen as one of the celebrity co-chairs for the upcoming Met Gala in May, alongside notable figures such as Pharrell Williams, Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, and LeBron James. However, the outcome of his trial may impact his ability to participate.
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