Rihanna, an American popstar, was seen present in the court during the trial held for her partner, rapper ASAP Rocky.
Held in Los Angeles at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, he has been accused of firing a handgun at ASAP Relli, his former friend in November 2021.
The appearance marks the first time that the singer has shown public support for her beau since the start of the legal proceedings. Hours earlier, the pair were spotted out and about on a date in Los Angeles.
The rapper opted for a jury trial instead of the plea deal that was offered to him, which included 180 days in jail along with seven years of suspended service and probation of three years.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and may receive up to 24 years in prison if found guilty.
According to the opening statements, Relli had believed that the pair would be meeting to “argue” and “repair their relationship”. However, he stated that the situation went sour as they got into an altercation, during which Rocky allegedly shot at him and missed, with one bullet grazing his hand.
According to Rocky’s lawyer, he had been carrying a “prop gun”.
His lawyer Joe Tacopina claimed, "For Relli, it was never about justice... it’s about a man seeking a profit from a fabricated narrative. Rocky has nothing to hide here."
Rihanna entered the courtroom through a back entrance, donning a long black coat along with a matching bag, according to People.
She sat between Rocky’s mother and sister in the front row, with her bodyguard and assistant sitting nearby.