Recently, Rocky has been charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm for allegedly firing at his friend from high school. He could potentially serve 24 years in jail. His friend from high school, Relli, had claimed that Rocky met up with him, and he had two other guys with him; they started to argue, and that led to Rocky pulling the gun out of his waistband. He fired at Relli, and it glazed his knuckles. ASAP’s lawyer had argued that the gun he used was a prop gun, so there wasn’t any way he could fire the weapon at Relli. Rocky has a couple of critical upcoming projects that he might not be able to attend if he gets sentenced. Additionally, he is supposed to be one of the headliners at the March Rolling Loud festival and attend the Met Gala with his partner Rihanna.
The trial had been postponed so he could perform at the festival. According to The New York Times in the article “ASAP Rocky’s Trial: What To Know About The Assault Charges,” the author stated, “When the public entered the courtroom around 10 a.m., Rihanna, wearing a dark-colored suit jacket, was already seated in the front row of the gallery that featured around 100 people. She listened impassively as Relli detailed his dispute with Rocky and testified to his shock when Rocky brandished a gun.”. Rocky and Rihanna’s fans have been obsessing over her attending his trial. President Trump has shown interest in Rocky’s trial by wanting Rocky to be released in a post on Twitter. The fans are worried about what will happen to his children and Rihanna since they may have to go 24 years without their father/boyfriend. According to Fox 5, in the article “ASAP Rocky faces up to 24 years in prison: Breaking down the trial,” the author wrote, “Relli has testified that he felt abandoned as Rocky’s fame skyrocketed, while he and other members of the group struggled to keep up.” Relli gets jealous of Rocky because he feels Rocky has left him in the dark. Things got worse between them when Rocky didn’t offer to support a fellow A$AP member’s family after they had just passed away. Rocky’s lawyer argues that Relli only accuses him because of his jealousy and financial gain. The courtroom proceedings were intense, with both sides presenting compelling evidence and testimonies. 
Outside of where the trial was being held, fans and supporters organized rallies and social media campaigns to show solidarity with the rapper during his legal battle. Rocky was found guilty of assault, but he was given a suspended sentence so he could return to the United States. Many artists have supported Rocky, and this has helped him maintain his standing within the music industry. Some braids reconsidered their partnerships with ASAP Rocky during the trial, while others stood by him, showing him loyalty and support. This trial sparked a broader discussion on how celebrities navigate legal troubles and the impact of their public persona judicial proceedings.
