The courtroom in downtown Los Angeles became a focal point of attention on Wednesday as Rihanna made a notable appearance at the assault trial of Asap Rocky. The acclaimed singer was present in the gallery, observing crucial testimony concerning an alleged shooting incident that could potentially lead to a lengthy prison sentence of nearly 20 years for her partner, the renowned rap artist ASAP Rocky.
Terell Ephron, a pivotal figure and co-founder of ASAP Mob, the Harlem-based rap collective instrumental in launching ASAP Rocky’s celebrated career, took the witness stand. Known professionally as ASAP Relli, Ephron testified about a meeting with ASAP Rocky, legally identified as Rakim Mayers, in Hollywood on November 6, 2021. The purpose of this encounter, according to Ephron, was to mend their fractured friendship.
Ephron detailed how their relationship had deteriorated as ASAP Rocky’s fame escalated, contrasting with the struggles faced by other members of the ASAP crew in achieving similar success. Ephron had previously stated that, with the exception of Mayers, most ASAP crew members were now facing financial hardship.
“I refer to him as Mr. Six Month Man because I would only see him biannually… and when he did appear, his demeanor felt insincere. We questioned the true purpose of our involvement in this ASAP venture,” Ephron stated during his testimony, suggesting disillusionment within the group. “It all seemed like a facade.”
Alt text: ASAP Rocky attentively listens to his attorney’s opening statement at his assault trial in Los Angeles, 2025, facing charges related to the 2021 Hollywood shooting incident.
Ephron recounted that tensions were palpable on the night in question, stemming from an overheard phone conversation the previous day where Mayers allegedly insulted him. Adding to the discord, Ephron mistakenly believed Mayers had broken a commitment to contribute to the funeral expenses of a deceased ASAP collective member who had succumbed to a drug overdose.
Seeking reconciliation, Ephron hoped to resolve the escalating conflict when they convened near the W Hotel on the evening of the shooting. However, Mayers arrived accompanied by two other ASAP crew members, immediately setting a confrontational tone.
“It unfolded like a scene from a movie… his manner of approach… the entire situation was unexpected, leaving no opportunity for dialogue,” Ephron described, emphasizing the abrupt escalation of the encounter.
Prosecutors have formally accused Mayers of firing shots at Ephron, resulting in a graze wound to Ephron’s hand.
Mayers is currently facing two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, along with a sentencing enhancement for the alleged use of a firearm during the purported crime. He has entered a plea of not guilty. His legal team contends that the firearm involved in the incident was merely a prop gun utilized in music video productions and was incapable of discharging live ammunition.
The prosecution initiated their presentation of evidence against the hip-hop icon ASAP Rocky, also known as Rakim Mayers, on Friday, focusing on the 2021 shooting incident in Hollywood. A conviction could lead to a prison term of nearly two decades for Mayers.
Earlier that morning, as Mayers arrived at the court premises around 9:45 a.m., he was surrounded by his entourage and a throng of media personnel, yet Rihanna was not immediately visible. Rihanna’s presence in the courtroom was confirmed shortly after 10 a.m. when she was observed among Mayers’ family, dressed in a black pea coat and eyeglasses.
The “Umbrella” singer was seen observing Ephron’s testimony with focused attention. While she is not listed as a witness in the case, her relationship with Mayers was brought up during the jury selection process. Judge Mark Arnold of the L.A. County Superior Court did not acknowledge her presence, and it remains unclear whether the jurors were aware of her attendance.
Representatives for Rihanna have not issued any responses to previous requests for comments regarding the ongoing case.
Video footage capturing the confrontation between Mayers and Ephron exists, though it does not provide a complete recording of the entire incident.
One segment of the video depicts a person in a hooded sweatshirt, identified by prosecutors and Ephron as Mayers, physically grabbing Ephron around his head and neck, subsequently drawing a handgun from his waistband. Another clip, filmed from a distance, captures the shooting incident but does not clearly show faces, although it does record the distinct sounds of two loud pops, consistent with gunshots.
Joe Tacopina, Mayers’ defense attorney, who is slated to begin cross-examining Ephron on Thursday, has asserted that the weapon in question was a “prop gun” designed to fire only blanks. Earlier in the week, Tacopina admitted under questioning from Judge Arnold that he would not be able to produce the alleged prop gun as evidence during the trial proceedings.
Ephron testified that Mayers aimed a gun at his head, face, and chest during a heated verbal exchange between them. Ephron maintained that he had no intention of instigating violence, asserting that he did not want to harm his former friend or negatively impact his thriving career in the music industry.
Alt text: ASAP Rocky pictured attending an event with Rihanna in New York, highlighting his public image and high-profile relationships amidst his ongoing legal challenges.
“If I were to engage in a physical altercation with Rocky… given my existing unfavorable public perception… confronting him would undoubtedly lead to professional blacklisting. Record labels generally favor him and collaborate with him,” Ephron explained, indicating concerns about industry repercussions.
Ephron recounted that the confrontation was briefly interrupted by a passing couple. However, just as the situation seemed to de-escalate, Ephron noticed Jamel Phillips, also known as ASAP Twelvyy, one of Mayers’ companions, concealing a knife. This observation, according to Ephron, triggered a sense of betrayal and intense anger.
“At that point, I reacted strongly. I began walking alongside them, vocally expressing my frustrations about how Rocky had let us down and how Jamel, despite touring with Rocky for an extensive period of eight or nine years, had returned to living in public housing,” Ephron testified, conveying a sense of deep disappointment and resentment. “I realized I was unlikely to encounter him again… I might have walked away if I hadn’t seen the knife.”
Ephron stated that he pursued Mayers and his associates, continuing to voice insults as they moved away. It was at this juncture, Ephron recounted, that Mayers turned around and discharged a shot downwards. Fearing for his life, Ephron said he grabbed Illijah Ulanga, also known as ASAP Illz, the other individual accompanying Mayers, and “used him as a protective shield.”
Ephron described feeling a burning sensation on his knuckles, and prosecutors presented photographic evidence of two bloody abrasions. Subsequently, ASAP Rocky and his companions left the scene, and Ephron returned to his hotel room.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the shooting incident following a 911 call; however, body camera footage presented in court earlier in the week indicated that they did not initially discover any tangible evidence of a crime at the scene.
Ephron stated that he revisited the location approximately an hour later and discovered shell casings, which he then handed over to detectives at the LAPD’s Hollywood Division the following day.
Tacopina has previously characterized Ephron’s discovery of evidence, which he noted had been overlooked by at least six police officers, as “miraculous.” He has also argued that Ephron’s decision to involve the police was primarily motivated by a desire to strengthen his civil lawsuit against Mayers related to the shooting incident.
Ephron refuted the notion that he had benefited from publicly accusing Mayers, asserting that his life and career had significantly declined since he contacted the LAPD.
“It has been an ongoing nightmare, marked by death threats,” he stated. “Being labeled a snitch… my own artists and producers have turned against me because of the decision I made.”
