Rihanna defends A$AP Rocky after being asked ‘insensitive’ question following trial win
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: DUTCH/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images
Rihanna has been praised for her 'excellent' response to a reporter quizzing A$AP Rocky with a 'dumb' question after his trial.
On Tuesday (February 18), A$AP Rocky - real name Rakim Athelaston Mayers - was found not guilty of shooting at a former friend in 2021.
The 36-year-old rapper faced two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and the trial lasted over two weeks after Rocky turned down a plea offer, maintaining his innocence despite potentially facing up to 24 years in prison if found guilty.
On November 6, 2021, Relli - real name Terell Ephron - claimed a gun was fired at him twice by Rocky.
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Relli and Rocky were part of a group of high school friends who went by the A$AP Mob.
Prosecutors alleged Rocky fired a gun at Relli twice, but the defense argued the 'Sundress' rapper had picked up a prop gun from the set of a music video for protection and so fired blanks.
Rocky's lawyer Joe Tacopina slammed Relli as an 'angry pathological liar' and the jury sided with Rocky, acquitting him of the charges.
Despite walking away from the trial victorious, Rocky ultimately lost a friend, with a reporter questioning him shortly after: "A$AP how does it feel losing your childhood best friend?”
And Rihanna - partner to Rocky and mom to the pair's two children - wasted no time responding for him, flicking her hand up to the reporter as if to stop them talking before quizzing back: "How do you think it feels?"
And it hasn't taken long for fans of the pair to flock to social media in praise of the singer's reply.
One Instagram user said: "Thats a mother hand for sure i kno that hand when i see it I was quieter and i wasnt even talkin."
"Yesss stand up for your man," another added.
A third commented: "Its a very dumb question lol."
"Oh she don't play about her man like that was so unnecessary and insensitive as a question tho," a fourth wrote.
And a fifth resolved: "Excellent response."
Rocky later told reporters: "I really want to thank the jury for making the right decision. I’m just so thankful. This is crazy right now.
"This whole experience has been crazy, for the past four years, but I’m thankful, nonetheless, I’m thankful.
"Blessed to be here right now, to be a free man talkin’ to y’all. Thank you."
Taking to his Instagram story later, he added: "The glory belongs to god and god alone! Thankful, humbled by his mercy."