Potential jurors in ASAP Rocky’s trial for alleged assault with a semiautomatic firearm have been asked a lot of questions about the rapper and the mother of his children, Rihanna.
As reported by TMZ, the jury selection process for the trial is ongoing. Among the questions the prosecution asked of potential jurors is whether they’re aware of Rocky or Rihanna and their music.
The prosecution asked if potential jurors had ever purchased any products from Rihanna’s Fenty label, including makeup or clothing. They also asked the pool if they could reach a fair verdict if Rihanna is present in the courtroom during the trial.
Earlier this month, Rocky’s case went to trial after the 33-year-old rapper rejected a plea deal. He has been accused of firing a gun at his former friend Terell Ephron, who was previously known as ASAP Relli.
Rocky’s plea deal would have given him a 180-day jail sentence followed by three years probation. If convicted, he could face as many as 24 years behind bars.
Reverend Al Sharpton has criticized the jury selection process so far and asked why only four of the 106 potential jurors selected were Black.
“It is absolutely ridiculous that the jury will be not fair and representative, so as to deprive A$AP Rocky of a fair trial,” Sharpton wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “When we have four (4) black people in the city of Los Angeles, out of one hundred and six (106)—and exactly zero (0) within in the first thirty (30) possible candidates for the jury—something appears to be very wrong with the system.”
The jury selection process isn’t the first time questions about Rihanna have come up in the case. Earlier this month, Rocky was asked by the judge about his relationship status with Rihanna, with whom he shares two children.
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