Rihanna makes courthouse appearance to support A$AP Rocky amid shooting trial: Reports

Rihanna appeared in court for the first time Wednesday to stand by her partner and the father of her children, A$AP Rocky.

According to reports by The Associated Press, The Los Angeles Times and People magazine, the music hitmaker, beauty mogul and billionaire made a rare public appearance, to fans' surprise, at Rocky's court hearing in downtown Los Angeles, where he's on trial for allegedly shooting a former friend in 2021.

Rihanna was dressed in all black and sat in the gallery at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in LA wedged between Rocky's mother Renee Black and his sister Erika B. Mayers, according to People.

The singer, 36, dodged the public in order to attend the trial and was escorted to the courthouse and courtroom by security officials, reports the AP. She also sat out of view of the courtroom's cameras.

A$AP Rocky trial begins: A$AP Relli testifies against rapper in alleged shooting

Her Wednesday courthouse appearance marks the first time she has publicly shown support for Rocky since his legal case began.

On Thursday, Rihanna appeared in court again wearing a tailored white shirt and long black tie, accessorized with gold earrings and calmly followed court proceedings, according to The Associated Press and Rolling Stone.

Rocky, whose legal name is Rakim Athelston Mayers, has been standing trial on two felony charges that he fired a handgun at a former friend, who is known by the name A$AP Relli and was born Terell Ephron. If convicted, Rocky could get up to 24 years in prison.

Opening statements began Friday in the three-week-long trial, and the rapper's accuser Terell Ephron, formerly known as A$AP Relli, began detailing the incident to the courtroom Tuesday.

According to the AP, Rihanna watched as Relli testified about the moment Rocky allegedly fired a gun at home on a Hollywood street in 2021.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky relationship timeline: How the couple's romance began

In January 2024, the, "Praise The Lord" rapper pleaded not guilty to the weapons charges.

The Harlem, New York-born artist's trial no doubt complicates his life with the Bajan billionaire, with whom he shares sons RZA, 2, and Riot Rose, 1.

"We're ready to go. It’s been a long time," Rocky's defense lawyer, Joe Tacopina, said after a Jan. 15 hearing, according to The Associated Press. "It's been something that's waiting over Rocky's head and Rihanna and their family's heads for a while. We're anxious to get this thing underway and get this behind him."

Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Naledi Ushe

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rihanna shows up to support A$AP Rocky at assault trial