Rihanna speaks out following boyfriend A$AP Rocky's not guilty verdict in assault trial

Rihanna has spoken out to share her gratitude after her boyfriend, A$AP Rocky, was found not guilty on two felony counts of assault.

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Athelaston Mayer, had his fate decided by jurors in Los Angeles on Tuesday (February 18), following a 2021 altercation in which he was accused of shooting a former friend.

The rapper was accused of using a semi-automatic firearm against Terell Ephron, known as A$AP Relli, who Rocky had met as part of the A$AP Mob crew of creators when they were in high school.

The accusations against Rocky stemmed from a 2021 altercation (Allison Dinner - Pool/Getty Images)

Rocky would have faced more than 24 years in prison if convicted, and after the not guilty verdict was read, he thanked jurors for 'saving [his] life'.

Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Rocky added: "First of all, I gotta thank God. I really wanna thank the jury for making the right decision. I'm so thankful this is crazy right now. I'm thankful... we're blessed to be a freeman talking to all of y'all."

Rihanna, who shares two children with Rocky, showed her support for the rapper as she joined him in the courtroom and hugged him after the verdict was read.

She later took to Instagram to share her gratitude over the outcome, writing: "The glory belongs to God and God alone! Thankful, humbled by his mercy. [Praying hands emoji]."

Rihanna shared her gratitude on Instagram (Instagram/@badgalriri)

Rihanna and Rocky got together in 2020 and went on to welcome their first son, RZA Athelston Mayers, in May 2022.

Just one month before RZA's arrival, Rihanna admitted she hadn't expected to have a baby before marriage, but made clear she was happy with the way things had worked out.

Speaking to Vogue, the singer said: "I always thought it would be marriage first, then a baby, but who the f*ck says it has to be that way. I'm certainly not gonna let that get in the way of me being a mom."

The couple's second child, Riot Rose Mayers, was born just over a year later in August 2023.

Rihanna supported Rocky in the courtroom (DUTCH/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

The conclusion to Rocky's case this week came after the jury viewed surveillance footage which prosecutors claimed showed Rocky firing a gun at Ephron in Hollywood.

Ephron also testified in the case that Rocky had grazed his knuckles by firing two shots from a handgun, however, Rocky's lawyer claimed the gun in the footage was actually a 'starter pistol' that only shot blanks.

They further claimed that Rocky had only fired it as a warning because Ephron was attacking another member of their group.

Jurors were informed that they could find Rocky not guilty if they believed the rapper thought one or two of the friends with him that night was in imminent danger, and he therefore used reasonable force.