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Rihanna has broken her silence after her boyfriend A$AP Rocky was found not guilty on all counts in his felony shooting trial.
The pop icon, 36, took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday night to mark the moment with a heartfelt message celebrating the verdict, which spared Rocky from a potential 24-year prison sentence if convicted.
‘The glory belongs to God and to God alone,’ she wrote, adding, ‘Thankful, humbled by His mercy.’ She signed off with a praying hands emoji.
Her emotional post came after an equally emotional moment in the courtroom.
As the verdict was read, Rihanna—who shares two children with Rocky—broke down in tears, while he ran to embrace her.
The Los Angeles courtroom erupted in cheers as the couple clung to each other, overcome with relief.
Rihanna has broken her silence after her boyfriend A$AP Rocky was found not guilty on all counts in his felony shooting trial, (seen Tuesday)
The pop icon, 36, took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday night to mark the moment with a heartfelt message celebrating the verdict, which spared Rocky from a potential 24-year prison sentence if convicted
Outside, Rocky expressed gratitude, thanking both God and the jury.
Meanwhile, his attorney, Joe Tacopina, revealed that while the rapper had hoped to shield Rihanna from the trial, ‘wild horses couldn’t keep her away.’
'Thanks y´all for saving my life,' A$AP Rocky told the jury, composed of seven women and five men, as he left the courtroom, according to the AP.
The jury reached a unanimous decision after deliberating for about three hours following the conclusion of closing arguments in the case last week.
The Harlem, New York-born entertainer, before going into the trial, had declined an offer from prosecutors of a six-month jail sentence and probation.
Under that offer, A$AP Rocky would have had to plead guilty to one count in the case, the AP reported.
Prosecutors in the case said that the entertainer shot twice at his former pal A$AP Relli.
‘The glory belongs to God and to God alone,’ she wrote, adding, ‘Thankful, humbled by His mercy'
As the verdict was read, Rihanna—who shares two children with Rocky— broke down in tears, while he ran to embrace her
The Barbados-born superstar songstress and fashion mogul had drawn attention during her outings to the court to support her boyfriend, who she shares two children with: RZA, two, and Riot Rose, one
The Take A Bow songstress hugged the rapper
A$AP Rocky celebrated the verdict with his legal team in the courtroom
The Los Angeles courtroom erupted in cheers
The jury was instructed by the court that under the law, A$AP Rocky could not be found guilty, if they found him to be defending himself in the incident
A$AP Relli - who had been associated with A$AP Rocky dating back to high school as part of the musical ensemble A$AP Mob - testified in the case that he was unharmed in the shooting, aside from a bullet grazing his knuckle.
A$AP Rocky's legal team said that the shots the rapper fired were actually blanks from a prop gun he obtained from the set of a music video he was working on, the AP reported.
The jury was instructed by the court that under the law, A$AP Rocky could not be found guilty, if they found him to be defending himself in the incident.
The Barbados-born superstar songstress and fashion mogul had drawn attention during her outings to the court to support her boyfriend, who she shares two children with: RZA, two, and Riot Rose, one.
In multiple outings, Rihanna was seated between A$AP Rocky's mother Renee Black and sister Erika B. Mayers.
The Diamonds artist had brought their young children to the court for closing arguments in the felony case.
The fashion mogul, who founded the company Fenty Beauty, was mentioned multiple times as attorneys conducted jury selection, amid speculation how her larger-than-life presence could sway jurors.
Following the verdict, jurors were led out of the courtroom and didn't talk to the media as they departed, the AP reported.
Rocky had a more somber expression as he arrived at the Los Angeles court on Tuesday before learning the verdict
Rihanna attended the trial sporadically and brought the couple's two sons - 2-year-old RZA Athelston Mayers and 1-year-old Riot Rose Mayers - for some of the closing arguments
It was not immediately clear what specifically compelled them to find him not guilty - be it the presence of the prop gun or his claims of acting in self-defense.
A$AP Rocky's attorney Joe Tacopina said jurors 'saw through this mirage of a case' in their swift verdict.
The attorney noted that the rapper 'turned down a plea for almost no jail time because he was innocent.'
Deputy District Attorney John Lewin told jurors in closing arguments to disregard the presence of Rihanna amid the trial.
Lewin adding that he believed that the SOS songstress brought their children to the legal proceedings to sway the jury toward a not guilty verdict.
'You are not allowed to consider how this might affect Rihanna and his kids,' Lewin told jurors. 'We are all responsible for our own actions in the world.'
After the verdict, Tacopina said outside the courthouse that 'Rocky did not want her here, I will tell you that.'
Lewin told jurors, 'You are not allowed to consider how this might affect Rihanna and his kids - we are all responsible for our own actions in the world.'
A$AP Rocky's legal team said that the shots the rapper fired were actually blanks from a prop gun he obtained from the set of a music video he was working on, the AP reported
The attorney noted that the rapper 'turned down a plea for almost no jail time because he was innocent
A$AP Rocky's attorney Joe Tacopina said jurors 'saw through this mirage of a case' in their swift verdict
Defense lawyer Tacopina pushed back on the assertion, saying A$AP Rocky 'did not want her here' there in the first place.
A$AP Rocky 'wanted to shield [Rihanna] from' the emotionally-draining court proceedings, Tacopina said, quoting the Rolling Stones in adding that 'wild horses couldn´t keep her away.'
A$AP Rocky had been more than a half-hour late in arriving for the verdict reading - and 'looked shaken and tense as he waited for it,' the AP reported.
His lawyer Tacopina said that 'there was a moment when before we heard the words from the clerk, he didn´t know if he was going to be spending the next two decades in jail or going home.'
Tacopina said A$AP Rocky's physical reaction to the verdict - leaping in celebration after hearing he was legally cleared - was 'insane' in a wonderful way.
'I didn´t know how athletic he was,' Tacopina said. 'That was raw emotion, you guys got to see that. Even for us it was insane.'
District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman’s office released a statement on Instagram after A$AP Rocky was cleared in the case
A$AP Relli - who had been associated with A$AP Rocky dating back to high school as part of the musical ensemble A$AP Mob - testified in the case that he was unharmed in the shooting, aside from a bullet grazing his knuckle. Pictured January 29 testifying in the case
District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman’s office released a statement on Instagram after A$AP Rocky was cleared in the case.
'While today's verdict is not the outcome we sought, we respect the jury's decision and the integrity of our justice system,' Hochman said. 'Our office remains committed to seeking accountability for those who break the law, no matter their status or influence.
Hochman said that Hollywood celebrities should not expect special treatment if they break the law.
'Fame does not place anyone above the law, and we will not waver in our pursuit of justice for victims and the community,' Hochman said.
Hochman wrapped up in saying, 'Our mission remains clear: to uphold the law, protect public safety, and ensure justice for all.'
A$AP Rocky, whose recent singles include Highjack, Tailor Swif and Ruby Rosary, has a busy slate professionally following the conclusion of the case.
Next month, he will be at the Rolling Loud music festival in Los Angeles, as he's one of the principle headliners along with Playboi Carti and Peso Pluma.
This May, he's slated to be a celebrity co-chair at the Met Gala, where Rihanna has made for multiple memorable moments in the past.
He also appears this summer in the upcoming Spike Lee motion picture Highest 2 Lowest, along with an impressive cast headlined by Denzel Washington and featuring Jeffrey Wright, Dean Winters and Ice Spice.
