A$AP Rocky, who was born Rakim Mayers, has never been shy of the spotlight. Yet, his recent legal trouble put him in a new kind of light. The fashion icon and more notably rapper was the defendant of an assault trial that wrapped up in February. Attention was drawn to him for the extreme charges he faced but also for his presence in court, both fashion-wise and strategically.
The trial came from a 2021 incident where Rocky was accused of assaulting someone with a gun. The prosecution claimed that he fired the gun at his former friend, A$AP Relli, who is also a part of A$AP Mob. The charges Rocky faced were up to 24 years in prison, yet Rocky maintained his innocence throughout the entirety of the trial, and shot down a 6-month plea deal, taking a risk in court.
The case caused public debate while some believed Rocky was unfairly targeted due to his status as a celebrity, while others thought the allegations had quite some weight on them and were serious enough to get a potentially longer prison sentence. The possibility of over a two-decade sentence had people following the trial and every detail. It also left people questioning whether his fame was a good or bad thing in his situation.
“I was shocked when I first heard about it,” junior Liz Zhagui said. “He seems like a good dad and everything so I didn’t think he would do something that stupid, especially because he’s with Rihanna. I was worried how it would go after he didn’t take the deal.”
As the trial progressed, Rocky’s legal team argued that the accusations were extremely dramatized and there was not any credible evidence to convict him. On the flip side, the prosecution labeled Rocky as a dangerous individual. Rocky, denying the short plea deal offered to him, demonstrated his security and confidence in the courtroom.
Beyond just the legal battle, Rocky’s presence in court had notoriety in the media, especially with the paparazzi. He is known to have a bold fashion sense and step out of masculine norms when it comes to clothes, yet no one expected Saint Laurent to discretely style Rocky during his trial. His choice of untraditional court attire, with baggy suits, extremely long trench coats, and more, caused discussion on whether he was making a statement, trying to maintain his image, or if he was simply just showing off his personal style.
“I think he dressed like that on purpose,” junior Darrell Maye said. “It showed like he doesn’t care what he’s going through because he’s still A$AP Rocky. His style is just part of who he is.”
When the verdict was announced, Rocky was found not guilty of assault, which led him to avoid the harsh 24-year sentence away from his lady and his two sons. Notably, after the verdict was announced, videos showed Rocky lunging back towards Rihanna to embrace her in a hug.
“I like A$AP Rocky,” junior Mckenna Bock said, “but I think if it was anyone different, or at least not a celebrity, they probably would’ve been guilty.”
The response to the verdict was mixed. Some felt justice had been rightfully served, while others were left with varying opinions not just with Rocky, but with celebrities.
“The trial didn’t change how I see him,” junior Kim Garcia said, “but it just made me remember that I don’t know famous people personally, and you never know what they do in their own lives. But I still like his music.”
With the trial in his past now, people wonder how or if this case will impact Rocky’s career. Some believe the trial had no impact on him, while others think the effects will linger.
“I think people viewed him differently,” senior Amari Chestner said. “I don’t think it will ruin him or anything though. I still love his music, and I think he has too big of an impact on fashion to be cancelled.”
As Rocky moves on from the trial, we will have to see if he lets this time in his life define him or if its just another highlighted moment in his career, that he can laugh about later on. Regardless of what people think about Rocky, it is hard to deny that he is not a powerful force in the music, modeling, and fashion industries. He has made it clear he won’t go down without a fight, which makes him someone the public always has their eyes on.
