Rihanna is ‘terrified’ that her boyfriend A$AP Rocky could go to jail for his gun trial, according to sources who claim this is why the billionaire superstar and her partner have been staging positive public appearances.
At a time when all eyes have been on the singer’s friend and mentor, Jay-Z, amid allegations that he raped a 13-year-old boy in September 2000, Rihanna has chosen to focus her attention on matters much closer to to keep house.
The Diamonds hitmaker will watch as the father of her two sons goes on trial in January on charges that he fired a gun at a former friend and associate outside a Hollywood hotel in 2021.
Rocky, real name Rakim Athelaston Mayers, faces up to eight years in prison if convicted of two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, an insider revealed that the concerned singer has taken her mind off the matter due to the couple’s headline-grabbing outings, which she hopes will remind the public of their love.
“Rihanna isn’t even trying to get involved in the Jay-Z mess because she has a more important legal drama in her life that could have truly heartbreaking consequences,” the source began.
Rihanna is ‘terrified’ that her boyfriend A$AP Rocky could go to jail for his assault with a semi-automatic firearms trial, sources tell DailyMail.com
Rocky, real name Rakim Athelaston Mayers, faces up to eight years in prison if convicted of two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm
The insider continued, “A$AP will be tried next month for the alleged shooting and if convicted, he could be sentenced to prison.
“Rihanna and A$AP have been on a serious ‘do-good/be-loved’ PR mission lately, which is the complete opposite of how they like to live their lives.”
Since it was confirmed last November that A$AP’s case would go to trial, the couple has made a greater number of public appearances than was normal during their relationship.
The source further explained the reasoning behind the move: “They are both extremely private people, and they don’t like to be out and about, but Rihanna knows she has to get her man there to show crazy love for each other. hoping that the exposure will have a positive effect on the outcome of this case.
“She’s terrified he’s going to jail. She has two children at home that she doesn’t want to raise alone.’
The Monster singer and the Praise the Lord rapper – who have been dating for almost five years – share sons RZA, two, and Riot Rose, 16 months.
Since the rapper celebrated his 36th birthday in October, the couple has often put on an extremely loving show.
The source noted, “She’s terrified he’s going to jail. She has two children at home that she doesn’t want to raise alone.”
The rapper and singer share sons Riza, two, and Riot, one
The source added, “Rihanna and A$AP have recently been on a serious PR mission to do good/be liked, which is the complete opposite of how they like to live their lives.”
Days later, the rapper’s cover story for W magazine went live – when it was revealed that Rihanna had been the one to capture the images behind the lens.
When speaking to the publication about how he knew Rihanna was the one, he said, “I knew it when we were younger. We both did that, I think. So it only made sense when we got older. We just reconnected.”
The following week, the couple took their beloved exhibition to China, where they attended the Moncler City of Genius event during Shanghai Fashion Week.
Rihanna was seen planting a kiss on her man during videos taken at the bash, with the pair appearing to still be in the honeymoon phase of their romance.
On October 22, the couple partied together in Barbados after Rocky’s trial was postponed so he could perform at a benefit concert in Thailand.
The duo had been in the singer’s home country ahead of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Caribbean launch event.
The couple then went back to mom and dad duties as they took their young sons to Halloween celebrations in downtown Los Angeles.
Earlier this month, Rihanna stole the show in a striking light blue fluffy coat as she posed up a storm with Rocky at the Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall.
Since the rapper celebrated his 36th birthday in October, the couple has often put on an extremely united performance
The source explained: “She knows no amount of money can buy his acquittal. She wants the audience to see the strong bond between them, which is actually legitimate.
The source explained, “Rihanna knows she has to get her man out there to show crazy love for each other, hoping the exposure will have a positive effect.”
Elsewhere, the pair was spotted helping give back to Rocky’s beloved Harlem community at an event hosted by Puma at the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem.
The star joined Rocky as he was honored with the Cultural Innovator Award at the prestigious event after being part of many high-profile campaigns this year and his Fashion week Paris debut.
Just a few days later, the couple was in New York for the Footwear News Achievement Awards, where they mingled with the likes of Martha Stewart as Rocky took home the Collaboration of the Year gong for his collection with Puma.
Rihanna watched and proudly filmed on her phone as she was heard saying during a video call, “Let me see who won that shit?” My baby daddy!’
Right at the same time, Rocky said, “Your baby daddy.”
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she said, “I left my kids behind [their sons RZA and Riot] to be here. I am very proud of their father. That’s my baby daddy.
“He has always had an impact on the fashion game. He’s always had a unique sense of style that designers have honed and actually used as inspiration for collections, and he’s never gotten the amount of credit he deserves.
“Being here tonight, it feels great to see him accomplish something that we always knew he was a part of and had an influence on. And I’m proud to be here at his side. And it’s a big problem.’
The next day, the pair was spotted helping give back to Rocky’s beloved Harlem community at an event hosted by Puma. at the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem.
Rihanna recently hinted at plans for a third pregnancy, telling E! News she’s hoping for a girl in the future and ‘fingers crossed’
The couple mingled with the excited teens as they helped distribute Puma sneakers, clothing, accessories and other items to more than 200 members of the club.
On December 8, the couple made a fun appearance at the Design Miami expo in South Florida.
The couple attended the event, which is part of the annual Art Basal, to promote the latest addition to the rapper and designer’s HOMMEMADE line.
The couple then stepped out for another stylish date night while attending a holiday party together in West Hollywood.
In October, a Los Angeles judge invited Rihanna to the criminal court to support her boyfriend during the jury trial.
“If she wants to come, she can come,” LA Supreme Court Judge Mark Arnold told Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, during a hearing where the trial was postponed — for the third time — until January.
Without using Rihanna’s name, the judge asked Tacopina if “the mother of (Rocky’s) two children” would attend the trial, which is expected to last seven to 10 days.
Tacopina said he did not know if she would appear in court, but added that while she would show up for the start, it is unlikely she will be there for the entire trial.
Terell Ephron (pictured) told the court that Rocky shot him after inviting him to a meeting in Hollywood
Rocky has pleaded not guilty to two felonies involving the use of a semiautomatic firearm.
Judge Arnold told the attorney and prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec, that Rocky should not expect star treatment during his trial.
“The fact that Mr. Mayers is a celebrity will make no difference to this court,” he said. “He will be treated like anyone else.”
Rocky’s trial date was moved from November 12 to January 21 so that the prosecution and defense could exchange witness lists and collect discovery evidence.
The judge reluctantly allowed the continuation, noting that the trial had already been postponed twice.
But he warned both attorneys that he would not tolerate any more delays, saying, “I want jury selection to begin on January 21.”
Rocky has pleaded not guilty to two felonies involving the use of a semiautomatic firearm.
Riri and Rocky were first linked in early 2010, when he was her opening act on the 2013 Diamonds World Tour.
In 2020, the couple got serious and announced their relationship as fans via social media.
The New York native called the singer “the love of my life” in a 2021 interview with GQ.
More recently, Rihanna hinted at plans for a third pregnancy, telling E! News that she’s hoping for a girl in the future and “fingers crossed.”