Judge questions whether A$AP Rocky and Rihanna are married amid shooting trial, internet reacts

During Wednesday's preliminary hearing of A$AP Rocky's trial for his alleged role in a 2021 shooting, a judge pressed the defendant's lawyers about the status of his relationship with partner, Rihanna and whether the couple were legally married. The blatant question created buzz on social media as users' reactions poured in.

In the footage of the hearing Judge Mark S. Arnold can be witnessed attemtping to clarify the couple’s marital status by asking Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, how to addess Rihanna, who he plans to ask potential jurors about.

“She’s his common-law wife, your Honor. Or just ‘wife,'” Tacopina replied leading to an objection from prosecutors. The state's lawyer responded by saying that “If they’re not legally married, we prefer that she not be referred to as his wife and that she is just referred to as his significant other or mother of his children.”

Ultimately, the judge ruled that Rihanna will only be addressed as A$AP Rocky’s wife if they are legally married, otherwise "she is his significant other,".

A$AP Rocky is accused of shooting former A$AP Mob affiliate A$AP Relli during a dispute in 2021. If guilty, the rapper faces upto 24 years in prison.

Upon being questioned if Rihanna will attend the trial, Rocky's lawyer offered no confirmation,adding that the rapper is "very protective of Rihanna and doesn’t want her anywhere near this proceeding. But that’s a family decision they’ll make".

Social media users chimed in with their opinions and reactions about the ordeal with some joking about the manner of the judge's inquiry while other interpreted this moment as a reinforcement for the significance of a legal marriage. 

One Instagram user jokingly wrote, “This relationship bout to get rocky ASAP.”

Some netizens also spread awareness legal rights of marriage as opposed to a 'common-law wife' who has is not entitled to their partner's inheritance nd cannot opt out if called by the judge to testify. 

While jury selection for Rocky's case starts next Tuesday, the trial is expected to last around two weeks.