ASAP Rocky Found NOT Guilty in Assault Trial—Here’s How Rihanna Helped!
Hey, everyone! Welcome back to the Impressive Channel. Some big news just dropped—ASAP Rocky has been found NOT guilty in his assault case against former friend ASAP REI. He was facing two counts of first-degree assault with a semi-automatic firearm, but the jury ruled in his favor.
And guess what? Rihanna played a huge role in helping him win this case! I’ll get into that in a second, but first, let’s break down what actually happened.
The ASAP Rocky vs. ASAP REI Drama—What Went Down?
This all started back in November 2021, when Rocky had a heated confrontation with ASAP REI—someone he had known since high school. Their fallout reportedly began over money. Specifically, Rocky had promised to help cover funeral expenses for a mutual friend, including flying the body home. But somewhere along the way, things got messy.
The two exchanged some tense text messages before deciding to meet up in person. When they finally saw each other, Rocky pulled up with his crew—ASAP Ills and ASAP 2—while REI was already there. That’s when things escalated.
REI claimed that Rocky pulled a gun, fired multiple shots, and even grazed his knuckles. He also said he was so scared that he grabbed Ills and used him as a human shield.
But Rocky’s defense told a completely different story. A key witness, TW, testified that REI was actually the aggressor. He allegedly followed Rocky, started the altercation, and even attacked Ills first. Rocky, on the other hand, only fired warning shots to protect himself and his crew.
In the end, that self-defense argument worked—Rocky is walking away a free man. But how did Rihanna step in to help? I’m breaking that down next!
Rocky’s defense insists he never pointed a gun at REI, and the weapon in question wasn’t even real—they claim it was a prop gun. They also argue that REI wasn’t grazed by a bullet at all; instead, his knuckles were scraped from hitting the ground. An independent witness called the police that night, but when officers arrived, they found no shell casings at the scene.
Strangely enough, REI returned later on his own—apparently to “gather evidence.” A lawyer had advised him that if he wanted to sue Rocky, he needed to file a police report first. Otherwise, it could look like an extortion attempt. Conveniently, REI just so happened to “find” two shell casings and turned them in two days later. Even more suspicious? He didn’t go to the hospital until days after the incident. Eventually, he sued Rocky for $30 million, making it painfully obvious what his real goal was. Seeing Rocky with Rihanna—who happens to be a billionaire—only fueled his motives. His text messages and phone calls revealed the truth: he had been plotting for a while, driven by jealousy and resentment toward Rocky.
That being said, Rocky definitely could’ve handled this better. His team insists it was a prop gun, but video footage shows him holding what looks like a real firearm, and gunshots can clearly be heard in the audio. So, putting two and two together, it’s pretty likely he fired shots—which, let’s be real, was reckless. What was the point? What was he trying to prove? Was it really worth putting his career, family, and freedom on the line over someone like REI? Rejecting a plea deal meant he was facing up to 24 years in prison—a massive gamble. He’s lucky the jury sided with him.
And honestly, it’s not hard to see why. The shell casings REI turned in didn’t match any of the guns police recovered from Rocky, which helped the defense push the prop gun argument. Plenty of people still believe Rocky used a real gun, but REI’s credibility was shot. He kept contradicting himself—he even committed perjury. At first, he claimed Rocky pressed a gun to his stomach, but on the stand, he admitted that never happened. He also swore he never texted Rocky before the incident—only to later admit he had, but deleted the messages.
In the end, REI’s story just didn’t hold up. His motives were shady, his testimony was full of holes, and the jury simply wasn’t buying it.
The Lies That Fell Apart in Court
He straight-up lied on the witness stand, claiming he never fired a 9mm gun—when video evidence showed him at a shooting range using that exact type of gun just two weeks before the incident. And honestly, who knows? He might have even used shell casings from that same session as his “evidence.”
He also lied about telling a friend he was going to beat up A$AP Rocky if he didn’t pay for his friend’s funeral. He swore he would never say something like that—but the receipts don’t lie. He did say it. And there were more messages where he was badmouthing Rocky, calling him fake, and making it clear he already had a serious grudge before they even crossed paths that day. It all just makes it obvious why he would try to extort him.
His credibility was shot, which is exactly why the jury didn’t take his side. But that’s not the only reason A$AP Rocky walked away victorious.
Did Rihanna Help A$AP Rocky Win His Case?
Let’s be real—one of the biggest reasons Rocky came out on top was Rihanna. She’s not just a superstar; she’s a billionaire, a fashion icon, a music legend. People love her. The moment she stepped into that courtroom, she had the room’s attention. And she wasn’t just there for show—she showed up every single day, standing by Rocky’s side.
She even brought their two sons. Some people questioned why, but come on—it was all about optics. She wanted the jury to see Rocky as more than just a rapper. He’s a father, a family man. Taking him away wouldn’t just be punishing him—it would be ripping him from his kids and their home. And let’s be real, some of those jurors were probably Rihanna fans too.
Now, I’m not saying the jury was so starstruck that they ignored the facts. They saw through the lies. But Rihanna’s presence definitely helped. She reminded them exactly who Rocky was, and more importantly, who he had by his side.
The Aftermath: Relief, Gratitude, and a Lesson to Be Learned
Honestly, I’m happy for them. Nobody wants to see a family torn apart, especially over something like this. If Rocky had actually done something criminal, that would be different. But in this case? It was clear as day—this was nothing but a bitter, jealous attempt at extortion.
And you could see the relief all over Rocky when the verdict was read. He ran straight to Rihanna, jumped on her, completely overwhelmed. His family was in tears. It was a powerful moment.
After the trial, Rihanna reacted by saying:
“The glory belongs to God and God alone. Thankful. Humbled by His mercy.”
And Rocky? His response was just as emotional:
“We want to thank God first. You gotta thank God first, you know what I’m saying? And I really want to thank the jury for making the right decision. This whole experience has been crazy these past four years, but I’m thankful nonetheless. I’m thankful and blessed to be here right now—to be a free man talking to y’all. Thank you all. Praise God.”
God definitely came through for Rocky. He got lucky—but let’s hope he also learned something from all of this.
What’s Next for Rocky?
If there’s one takeaway here, it’s that Rocky needs to clean up his circle. He’s a father now. He’s with Rihanna—a literal billionaire. He’s a millionaire himself. He’s got too much to lose. There’s no reason he should ever be in a situation like this again. The streets? They’re not worth it.
Hopefully, this was the wake-up call he needed to really make some changes. For real, for real.
What do y’all think? Drop your thoughts in the comments! And don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this video if you care!
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you next time. Bye!