In a surprising twist during jury selection for A$AP Rocky’s shooting trial, potential jurors have been asked about their opinions on Rihanna, the rapper’s long-time partner. The questions were reportedly designed to gauge how jurors felt about the pop star, who is also an entrepreneur with her lingerie line, Savage X Fenty, and cosmetics brand, Fenty Beauty. This scrutiny comes as Rocky faces charges for allegedly firing a gun at his former friend and collaborator, Terell Ephron, outside a Hollywood hotel in 2021.
The case, in which Rocky has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, has drawn significant attention. During jury selection, those called for duty were asked whether they had ever purchased Rihanna’s products, whether they had heard of the singer, or whether they thought they could remain impartial if she were to attend the trial. This move by the defense team likely reflects the ongoing media and public interest surrounding the celebrity couple.
Rihanna, who shares two sons with Rocky, has not been directly involved in the case but her public persona continues to intertwine with the proceedings. The trial itself hinges on whether Rocky fired a weapon at Ephron during an argument in November 2021, causing injury. The prosecution has presented surveillance footage and testimonies, but the defense disputes the claims, calling the evidence inconclusive.
While the trial progresses, both legal teams continue to maneuver through the complexities of the case. Rocky’s defense has already rejected a plea deal that would have resulted in a lesser sentence, insisting that the gun used in the alleged shooting was a prop firearm. The case is far from over, and jury selection remains a crucial phase of the trial, with questions about diversity in the jury pool being raised. As the trial unfolds, the involvement of celebrities like Rihanna adds another layer of intrigue to this already high-profile case.
