A$AP Rocky Granted Trial Delay, Avoiding Conflict with Music Festival Performance

A$AP Rocky has received a reprieve as his aggravated assault trial was postponed to late January. Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, had been scheduled to stand trial beginning November 12th on charges he opened fire on former friend Terell Ephron last November in Hollywood. However, after a request from Rocky’s high-powered defense attorney Joe Tacopina, Judge Mark Arnold agreed to push the trial to January 21st.

Tacopina cited Rocky’s previously announced headlining performance at the Rolling Loud festival in Thailand on November 22nd as the reason for seeking a delay. With the trial originally set for only 10 days prior, it would have directly conflicted with Rocky’s international touring commitment. Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec informed the court that the alleged victim Ephron had tentatively accepted the new trial date following discussions.

During discussions around the scheduling change, Judge Arnold inquired whether Rocky’s famous partner Rihanna would be attending the trial. Rihanna, who shares two young children with Rocky, was considered regarding potential security accommodations if she were to make appearances. Tacopina indicated it was unlikely she would be present for the entire proceeding due to parenting responsibilities but welcomed her participation if feasible.

Outside the courthouse after the hearing, Tacopina told the press he was grateful the judge was amenable to rescheduling given the “real-life circumstance” of his client’s music career. He remains confident in Rocky’s innocence, asserting the charges stem from an attempted extortion by Ephron in the wake of a physical confrontation last year. The high-profile matchup in the courtroom is seen as a major legal battle within the hip-hop world, pitting one of the genre’s biggest stars against allegations of aggressive violence.

Rocky has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm regarding the November 2021 incident. Surveillance video and witness testimony will take center stage at trial as both sides spar over whether the grainy footage definitively shows an actual shooting took place. Tacopina maintains Ephron has key credibility issues and orchestrated events hoping to extract money from Rocky.