American rapper A$AP Rocky has been found not guilty of firing a gun at his former friend, Terell Ephron, during a 2021 altercation in Hollywood.

A jury in Los Angeles acquitted the Grammy-nominated artist, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, on two felony assault charges that could have led to 24 years in prison.

Mr. Ephron, also known as A$AP Relli, accused the rapper of shooting at him after a heated argument on November 6, 2021, allegedly grazing his knuckles. However, Mr. Mayers denied the charges, claiming the firearm was merely a prop gun and that Ephron was seeking financial gain.

When the not-guilty verdict was announced, the courtroom erupted in cheers. A$AP Rocky, overwhelmed with emotion, rushed to embrace his family and longtime partner, Rihanna, who had been supporting him throughout the trial.

“Thank God for saving my life,” he said, expressing gratitude to the jury.

The trial revolved around conflicting evidence, with no recovered weapon and surveillance footage capturing only audio of gunfire but not the alleged shooting itself. Defense lawyers argued that Mr. Ephron had planted shell casings to frame the rapper.

Now cleared of charges, A$AP Rocky is gearing up for a major career comeback. He is set to release a new album, headline Rolling Loud 2025, and co-chair the Met Gala alongside Rihanna, Lewis Hamilton, LeBron James, and Pharrell Williams. He also stars in Spike Lee’s upcoming film, “Highest 2 Lowest,” alongside Denzel Washington.

BBC