
ASAP Rocky Reportedly Rejected Plea Deal Over Potential Career Impact
ASAP Rocky reportedly rejected the plea deal offered in his Los Angeles gun trial because of the potential impact it would have had on his career as a rapper.
TMZ reports that sources close to the 36-year-old rapper weren’t interested in taking the plea bargain because it would “effectively end his career,” with the loss of endorsement contracts with various big-name brands including Gucci and Puma. “Most important, he would not be able to tour and his career would be over,” added the source. “They would have him under their thumb for over eight years.”
Rocky’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, also told TMZ, “He is not taking any plea, because he has always maintained his innocence.”
Rocky is facing a charge of assault with a semiautomatic firearm in connection with an alleged 2021 shooting. He has been accused of firing a gun at his former friend and collaborator Terell Ephron, who was previously known as ASAP Relli. He was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department in 2022.
He has pleaded not guilty, rejecting a plea deal that would have seen him plead guilty to one felony assault charge. If he accepted the deal, he would have spent 180 days in jail followed by a seven-year suspended sentence, three years of probation, and 500 hours of community service.
The jury selection concluded on Thursday, Jan. 23. TMZ reported that there are seven women and five men on the juror, but they added that no one on the jury is Black. Earlier this week, Al Sharpton questioned why only four of the 106 potential jurors were Black. The prosecution asked some of the 106 potential jurors if they had ever purchased products from Rihanna’s Fenty brand.
Judge Mark Arnold will oversee the trial, which began with opening statements on Friday, Jan. 24.