Why Rihanna fears 'heartbreaking consequences' of A$AP Rocky's upcoming trial

Rihanna is 'terrified' that her boyfriend A$AP Rocky could go to prison for his firearm trial, according to sources who claim that it's why the billionaire superstar and her partner have been ramping up positive public appearances.

At a time when all eyes have been focused on the singer's friend and mentor Jay-Z amid allegations that he raped a 13-year-old in September 2000, Rihanna has chosen to keep her attention on matters much closer to home.

The Diamonds hitmaker will watch on as the father of her two sons stands trial in January on charges that he fired a gun at a former friend and collaborator outside a Hollywood hotel in 2021.

Rocky, real name Rakim Athelaston Mayers, is facing up to eight years in jail if convicted of two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm. 

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, an insider revealed the worried singer has been taking her mind off the matter through the couple's headline-making outings, which she hopes will remind the public of their love.

'Rihanna isn’t even trying to get caught up in the Jay-Z mess because she has more important legal drama in her life which could have real heartbreaking consequences,' the source began.

The insider continued: 'A$AP goes to trial next month for the alleged shooting and if convicted he could be sentenced to prison. 

'Rihanna and A$AP have been on a serious do-good / be-loved PR mission recently, which is completely opposite of how they like to live their lives.'

Ever since it was confirmed last November that A$AP's case would go to trial, the couple have made a larger number of public appearances than has been normal during their relationship.

The source further explained the reasoning behind the move as they stated: 'They are both extremely private people, and they do not like to be out and about, but Rihanna knows that she needs to get her man out there showing mad love to each other in hopes that the exposure will have a positive effect on the outcome of this case.

'She is terrified of him going to prison. She has two kids at home that she does not want to raise on her own.'

The Monster singer and the Praise the Lord rapper - who have been dating for almost five years - share sons RZA, two, and Riot Rose, 16-months.

Indeed, the couple have frequently been putting on an extremely loved-up display ever since the rapper celebrated his 36th birthday in October.

Days later, the rapper's cover story for W magazine went live - as it was revealed that Rihanna had been the one to capture the images behind the lens.

Speaking to the publication on how he knew Rihanna was the one, he gushed: 'I knew from when we were younger. We both did, I think. So it was only right when we got older. We just kind of reconnected.'

The next week saw the couple take their loved-up display to China as they attended the Moncler City of Genius event at Shanghai Fashion Week.

Rihanna was seen planting a kiss on her man during videos taken from the bash, with the pair appearing to still be in the honeymoon phase of their romance. 

October 22 saw the couple partying together in Barbados after Rocky's trial was postponed so that he could perform at a benefit concert in Thailand.

The duo had been in the singer's homeland ahead of Rihanna's Fenty Beauty Caribbean launch event.

The pair then went back to mom and dad duties as they took their young sons out for Halloween celebrations in downtown Los Angeles.

Earlier this month, Rihanna stole the show in an eye catching pale blue fluffy coat as she posed up a storm with Rocky at the Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall.

The star joined Rocky as he was honored with the Cultural Innovator award at the prestigious event after being part of many high profile campaigns this year, as well as making his Paris Fashion Week debut.

Just days later, the couple were in New York for the Footwear News Achievement Awards where they mingled with the likes of Martha Stewart as Rocky took home the Collaboration of the Year gong for his collection with Puma. 

Rihanna watched on and proudly filmed on her phone as she was heard stating on a video call: 'Let me see who won that sh*t? My baby daddy!' 

At the exact same time, Rocky stated: 'Your baby daddy.' 

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she gushed: 'I left my kids [their sons RZA and Riot] to be here. I’m super proud of their dad. That’s my baby daddy. 

'He’s always influenced the fashion game. He’s always had a unique sense of style that designers have honed in on and actually used as inspiration for collections, and he’s never gotten the amount of credit that he deserves. 

'Being here tonight, it just feels great to see him like achieve something that we always knew that he was a part of and influenced. And I’m proud to be here by his side. And it’s a big deal.'

The next day, the pair were seen helping to give back to Rocky's beloved Harlem community at an event organized by Puma at the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem.

The couple mingled with excited teens as they helped distribute Puma sneakers, apparel, accessories and other items to over 200 members of the club.

On December 8, the pair made a cozy appearance at the Design Miami expo in South Florida.

The couple attended the event, which is part of the annual Art Basal, to promote the latest addition to the rapper-turned-designer's HOMMEMADE line. 

The couple then stepped out for yet another stylish date night as they attended a holiday party together in West Hollywood.

Back in October, a Los Angeles judge invited Rihanna to come to criminal court to support her boyfriend at the jury trial.

'If she wants to come she can come,' LA Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold told Rocky’s attorney, Joe Tacopina, at a hearing where the trial was delayed - for a third time - till January.

Without using Rihanna’s name, the judge asked Tacopina if 'the mother of (Rocky’s) two children' would be attending the trial, which is expected to last between seven to ten days.

Tacopina said he didn't know if she would be in court, but added that while she may come for the start, it's unlikely she'd be there for the whole trial.

Judge Arnold told the defense lawyer and prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Paul Przelomiec, that Rocky shouldn't expect any star treatment at his trial.

'The fact that Mr. Mayers is a celebrity will make no difference in this court,' he said. 'He is going to be treated like anybody else.'

Rocky's trial date was pushed from November 12 to January 21 to allow for the prosecution and defense to exchange witness lists and to assemble discovery evidence. 

The judge reluctantly granted the continuance, noting that the trial had already been postponed twice.

But he warned both attorneys that he would tolerate no more delays saying: 'I want jury selection to start on January 21.'

Rocky has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

Riri and Rocky were first linked in the early 2010s when he was her opening act on the Diamonds World Tour in 2013.

In 2020, the pair got serious and publicized their relationship as fans via social media. 

The New York native referred to the singer as 'the love of my life' in a 2021 interview with GQ.

More recently, Rihanna hinted at plans for a third pregnancy and told E! News that she hopes for a baby girl in the future and is keeping her 'fingers crossed'.