A$AP Rocky may have been cleared of all criminal charges, but his legal battle isn’t over just yet. Terell Ephron, aka A$AP Relli, the former A$AP Mob member who accused Rocky of firing a gun at him in 2021, is moving forward with his civil lawsuit despite the rapper’s recent not guilty verdict.
During a court hearing in Los Angeles, Ephron’s attorney, Melissa Mikail, made it clear that her client is not backing down. “The standard in a criminal case is much higher than the preponderance of the evidence standard in a civil matter,” she stated. “We still believe our claims have merit and intend on fully litigating them.” With that, the judge lifted a previous hold on the case and scheduled the civil trial for January 12, 2026.
Ephron initially filed the lawsuit in August 2022, claiming that Rocky—real name Rakim Mayers—pulled a gun and fired at him during a heated altercation in Hollywood on November 6, 2021. During Rocky’s criminal trial, Ephron testified that he felt a burning sensation on his hand and believed he had been grazed by a bullet. However, under intense cross-examination, his credibility was called into question, with defense attorneys accusing him of lying under oath.
Rocky has consistently denied the allegations, and his legal team argued that he was only carrying a prop gun from his D.M.B. music video shoot with Rihanna earlier that year. Two A$AP Mob members supported this claim, testifying that the weapon was fake and only fired blanks. The jury ultimately took just over three hours to find Rocky not guilty.
After hearing the verdict, Rocky celebrated in court by leaping over a barrier to hug Rihanna, who had been supporting him throughout the trial. His attorneys, Joe Tacopina and Chad Siegel, also expressed their satisfaction with the decision.
Now, Rocky’s civil attorney, James Sargent, is questioning the validity of Ephron’s lawsuit. “The jury’s acquittal speaks volumes as to how they valued that testimonial evidence,” he told the judge, suggesting that the claims no longer hold weight.
One major issue for Ephron’s case is his previous attempt to settle with Rocky for $30 million. During the criminal trial, jurors heard a recorded phone call in which Ephron allegedly told a friend he would disappear and refuse to testify if he received a payout from Rocky—something Tacopina labeled as extortion.
Despite the lingering legal fight, Rocky’s team remains confident. “We look forward to a full vindication of Mr. Mayers in this matter,” Sargent told Rolling Stone, making it clear that no settlement would be considered.
The next hearing in the civil case is set for May 28.
