The singer shares a heartfelt message of thanks following the not guilty verdict in her boyfriend’s felony assault trial, as the couple celebrates a legal victory and emotional relief.
Rihanna has spoken out after her boyfriend, A$AP Rocky, was acquitted of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm in Los Angeles on February 18, 2025. The nine-time Grammy Award-winning singer took to Instagram moments after the verdict was delivered, expressing her gratitude for the outcome of the nearly four-week-long trial.
“THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD AND GOD ALONE,” Rihanna wrote in an Instagram Story, shared with her 150 million followers. “THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY!”
The trial had centered around allegations that A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, shot his former friend A$AP Relli outside a Hollywood parking garage in 2021. If convicted, the rapper faced up to 24 years in prison. However, his legal team consistently denied the charges, arguing that the weapon involved was a prop gun used for security purposes, not a firearm intended to harm.
As the verdict was read aloud in court, A$AP Rocky, visibly overwhelmed with emotion, leaped into Rihanna’s arms. In a heartfelt moment, the couple embraced, sharing a passionate kiss as they celebrated the outcome. “It was one of the happiest days of my life,” Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, told reporters outside the courthouse. “I love them. They deserve this moment.”
The rapper and his family let out a collective sigh of relief, with A$AP Rocky thanking his legal team and expressing his gratitude to those who stood by him. During a moment of levity, he even joked with Tacopina, calling him “A$AP Joe,” to the delight of the gathered crowd.
Rihanna, who had been a constant presence throughout the trial, showed unwavering support for her partner. Her Instagram Story was just one of many ways the “Love on the Brain” singer expressed her deep relief and joy. “I’ve been here for every single hearing,” Rihanna shared with her followers, hinting at the emotional toll the trial had taken on her.
The case had begun in 2022, after Relli accused A$AP Rocky of shooting him during a confrontation. Although Relli presented shell casings days later as evidence of the alleged shooting, no physical evidence of the crime was found at the scene, and no forensic proof supported Relli’s claims. At one point in the trial, A$AP Rocky had also rejected a plea deal that would have resulted in a 180-day jail sentence.
Now that the trial has concluded, the couple, who share two children together, can begin to move forward from the difficult chapter. Outside the courthouse, Tacopina spoke fondly of the couple, saying, “They are seriously the greatest people,” adding that this victory was deeply personal for him as well.
As the couple walks away from this chapter with a renewed sense of peace and relief, Rihanna’s social media post served as a reminder of their resilience: “THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY!”
