A “devoted” Rihanna insisted on attending A$AP Rocky’s assault trial and being “a rock” for him despite the rapper trying to keep her away.
On Tuesday, the rapper was acquitted of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm following an alleged altercation with his former friend A$AP Relli four years ago.
Due to Rocky facing 24 years in prison if found guilty, Joe Tacopina explained that he didn’t want the mother of his two children present because he “was very protective of her.”
“He didn’t want her there … I was sort of supporting his decision to keep her away — the trial is not about Rihanna,” he told reporters outside of the Los Angeles courthouse on Tuesday, per the DailyMail.
However, Rihanna wasn’t about to take no for an answer and reportedly told Tacopina, “You know, Joe, wild horses aren’t gonna keep me away.”
Speaking directly to the DailyMail, the lawyer explained the “Umbrella” singer was insistent on attending the trial to show support for her partner during the critical moment.
Rihanna, 37, allegedly told him to let Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, know she was “coming and [to] deal with it.”
Per Tacopina, her presence brought “a sense of calm that was obvious” and was a “rock for Rocky,” 36.
He added that Rihanna “obviously is enormously devoted and protective of her beautiful family.”
Amid questions on whether she would be present at the trial, Rihanna surprised fans when she made a low-key appearance at Rocky’s trial on Jan. 29.
She also made sure to show Rocky that their entire family was standing behind him when she brought their sons — RZA, 2, and Riot, 1 — to the courthouse on Feb. 13.
However, prosecutors weren’t very welcoming to Rihanna as they believed her presence swayed the jurors’ decision.
Deputy District Attorney John Lewin told jurors they were “not allowed to consider how this might affect Rihanna and his kids.”
Although she remained stoic during the proceedings, she let “her emotions [come] to the forefront” when her partner was found not guilty.
In fact, photos and videos from the moment showed Rocky immediately turning around and jumping into Rihanna’s arms as they cried with joy.
“After the verdict, her emotions came to the forefront, crying, hugging Rocky, hugging me, hugging Rocky’s family,’ Tacopina explained to the outlet.
“With me, she could not have been more appreciative of the work we were doing and was always gracious.”
In fact, the couple was so appreciative of Tacopina’s work that they vowed to name their next child after him.
“They grabbed me and they said, ‘Listen, our next baby A$AP Joe,’” he told “Extra.” “I said, ‘I’m gonna hold you to that!’”
Rihanna also took to social media to celebrate the win, posting on Instagram Stories, “THE GLORY BELONGS TO GOD AND GOD ALONE. THANKFUL, HUMBLED BY HIS MERCY!”
After the big win, Rihanna and Rocky were photographed celebrating with a late-night dinner at private social club Gravitas in Beverly Hills. They also went out on Thursday night to celebrate the singer’s birthday.
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