Home Entertainment A$AP Rocky’s potential trial jurors quizzed over Rihanna and her lingerie line amid gun-firing case

A$AP Rocky’s potential trial jurors quizzed over Rihanna and her lingerie line amid gun-firing case

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Potential jurors in the A$AP Rocky gun shooting case have reportedly been asked about the rapper's longtime partner, Rihanna; pictured December 2024

Potential jurors in the A$AP Rocky shooting case have reportedly been asked questions to gauge their knowledge and level of interest in the rapper’s longtime partner, Rihanna.

TMZ reports that potential jurors have been questioned about Rihanna, 36, and A$AP, 36.

Rocky is on trial on charges of firing a gun at Terell Ephron, a former friend and collaborator, outside a Hollywood hotel in 2021. He has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm.

Lawyers reportedly asked those summoned for jury duty if they had ever purchased products sold by Rihanna.

Rihanna, who has been dating A$AP, 36, since 2020 and shares children RZA, two, and Riot, one, with him, sells a clothing and lingerie line called Savage x Fenty, as well as the cosmetics range Fenty Beauty.

Potential jurors were reportedly asked if they had ever purchased Rihanna products and if they could reach a fair and impartial verdict if the singer were present in the courtroom.

Potential jurors in the A$AP Rocky gun shooting case have reportedly been asked about the rapper’s longtime partner, Rihanna; pictured December 2024

TMZ reports that the potential group was also asked if they had heard of A$AP or the Diamonds singer, listened to their songs or downloaded their music.

Rocky pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm and faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted of both.

The charges stem from a November 2021 confrontation in Hollywood between Rocky and fellow rapper Terell Ephron, whose stage name is A$AP Relli. He was a member, along with Rocky, of the rap group ASAP Mob that began in Harlem in 2006.

Rocky was arrested in April 2022 at LAX airport as he was getting off a private plane from Barbados, where he had been on vacation with Rihanna.

He has been free on $550,000 bail since his arrest.

At a preliminary hearing, prosecutors presented surveillance footage and testimony from Ephron and police to support their allegation that during the argument, Rocky pointed a gun at Ephron and then shot him twice, wounding his hand.

Ephron himself testified that Rocky put the gun in his stomach and said, “I’ll kill you right now,” before shooting.

Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, has questioned the prosecution’s case, saying there was insufficient evidence that a shooting occurred and calling evidence from surveillance video and witness testimony “inconclusive.”

Ephron has filed a separate civil lawsuit for assault and battery against Rocky that is on hold pending the outcome of the criminal trial.

Earlier Tuesday, Rocky and his legal team were given the opportunity to accept a plea deal in which he would plead guilty to one of the assault charges in exchange for a suspended sentence of seven years, 180 days in jail and three years of probation.

Rihanna sells a clothing line called Savage x Fenty, as well as cosmetics under Fenty Beauty, and both were reportedly mentioned during jury selection.

Rihanna sells a clothing line called Savage x Fenty, as well as cosmetics under Fenty Beauty, and both were reportedly mentioned during jury selection.

The Love On The Brain singer also has Fenty Beauty, her cosmetics range; in the photo 2017

The Love On The Brain singer also has Fenty Beauty, her cosmetics range; in the photo 2017

The second felony charge also would have been dismissed.

But Tacopina rejected the offer, telling Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold that the gun Rocky shot Ephron with was actually a “prop gun,” a fake firearm used in the movies.

It was the second time Rocky’s defense attorneys rejected a plea deal from the prosecution.

After the first agreement was filed last Wednesday, Tacopina told DailyMail.com: “He committed no crime” and called the Los Angeles District Attorney’s case against Rocky “fundamentally weak.”

The judge previously said he expected a jury to be selected in A$AP Rocky’s trial on Thursday, as the hip-hop star’s lawyers protest the dearth of black candidates for the panel.

Potential jurors were reportedly asked if they believed they could reach a fair and impartial verdict in the case against A$AP if Rihanna were present in the courtroom; pictured October 2024

Potential jurors were reportedly asked if they believed they could reach a fair and impartial verdict in the case against A$AP if Rihanna were present in the courtroom; pictured October 2024

Rihanna promoting her Savage x Fenty line in an August Instagram post

Rihanna promoting her Savage x Fenty line in an August Instagram post

Nearly a hundred potential jurors will gather in a Los Angeles courtroom for a long third day of questioning in the trial, where Rocky is charged with two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm for allegedly shooting a former friend in Hollywood in 2021.

Opening speeches will begin once 12 of them and four alternates are seated.

“I’m pretty sure we’ll have a jury tomorrow,” Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold said at the end of the hearing Wednesday, thanking the panelists for their patience. “This is not going to go on forever.”

Aside from dismissals for cause, each party can dismiss 10 jurors without giving a reason. The defense has used four of its challenges. Prosecutors used only one. They said they are happy with the jury as it is currently composed. But that can change.

She has been dating A$AP since 2020 and they share children, RZA, two, and Riot, one; in the photo 2023

She has been dating A$AP since 2020 and they share children, RZA, two, and Riot, one; in the photo 2023

Meanwhile, Rocky’s lawyers said they planned to appeal a judge’s rejection of their request for a hearing on why the jury is less than 5% black, while the area they come from is 9% African American. It is possible that none of the 16 jurors selected will be black.

“That concerns us, to say the least,” Tacopina said. “We’re in downtown Los Angeles, not a small town in Montana.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton said on the social platform X that he has been following the process and criticized the racial makeup of the jury.

“It is absolutely ridiculous that the jury was not fair and representative, to deprive A$AP Rocky of a fair trial,” the post said. “I am monitoring this trial and challenging the Los Angeles District Attorney to ensure fair and representative justice is provided to A$AP Rocky.”

The judge refused to suspend the trial on appeal.

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