Summary
- ASAP Rocky is currently facing a defamation lawsuit from his former collaborator, ASAP Relli, who alleges that Rocky shot him during a confrontation.
- Rocky's attorney, Joe Tacopina, has been publicly defending his client and claims that Relli is attempting to extort Rocky.
- Rocky's legal troubles began before the birth of his first child with Rihanna, as he was arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport on an assault charge. His case is still pending.
ASAP Rocky and Rihanna just welcomed their second son together, but a newborn isn’t the only stressful thing in their lives. The rapper is reportedly facing serious legal problems.
According to TMZ, ASAP, originally known as Rakim Athelaston Mayers, is currently entangled in a defamation lawsuit initiated by his former collaborator, ASAP Relli, whose birth name is Terell Ephron.
ASAP Rocky Is Being Sued By His Friend, Who He Allegedly Shot
The lawsuit revolves around allegations raised by Relli, asserting that Rocky shot him following a confrontation in Hollywood in November 2021. In response to these accusations, Rocky's attorney, Joe Tacopina, allegedly initiated an aggressive public relations campaign to safeguard his client's reputation.
In the lawsuit, Relli argues that Rocky's attorney took his defense of the rapper to an extreme. Relli asserts that Tacopina embarked on a public relations crusade following his alleged shooting incident involving A$AP Rocky, which resulted in defamation of Relli's character.
He contends that the lawyer’s public statements to the media have made him look untrustworthy and money-hungry.
"Rocky didn't commit a crime,” Tacopina said in one statement to TMZ, the lawsuit uses as evidence. “It was an extortion attempt by a former associate, who threatened to make false, criminal accusations if Rocky didn't pay him."
Due to the purported assault on him, Relli contends that he endured numerous death threats and became the target of mockery. He is seeking unspecified damages as a remedy.
ASAP Rocky Almost Went To Jail Before His First Baby’s Birth
While Relli’s lawsuit may be new, the legal problems aren’t for ASAP, who’s been dealing with them since before the birth of his first child, RZA, with Rihanna in May 2022.
Only a month before their baby’s arrival, ASAP Rocky was taken into custody shortly after landing at LAX while being accompanied by his pregnant partner, Rihanna. The duo had just returned from a brief visit to Rihanna's home country of Barbados.
Upon their flight's arrival at the terminal, law enforcement officers greeted the rapper, and he was subsequently apprehended for an alleged assault with a deadly weapon charge related to a shooting incident that occurred the previous year.
LAPD eventually revealed via Twitter they arrested the rapper, stating, "Early this morning, LAPD officers arrested Mayers for assault with a deadly weapon (firearm) at the Los Angeles International Airport. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for filing consideration.”
Even though he was released from jail on bail shortly after, ASAP’s criminal case is still pending.
Tacopina is still being employed as his attorney, and he came to the rapper’s defense after Relli’s lawsuit became public knowledge. "This is actually nothing more than a publicity stunt which is going to backfire badly,” he told TMZ. “
I more than welcome this lawsuit especially because the resolution of the criminal case has not happened yet. This opens up this extortionist to depositions under oath now before the resolution of the criminal case,” he went on. “It will expose the fraud he committed and unfortunately for his lawyers, it will cause them to be responsible for legal fees in this case. They don't know the facts of this case or the actions taken by their client. But, I will be more than happy to educate them."
Rocky’s case remains ongoing; he’s pled not guilty.
