Relli Refuses to Back Down, Defamation Suit Against A$AP Rocky Moves Forward

In a continuing legal battle, A$AP Relli is refusing to back down against his former collaborator A$AP Rocky. Despite Rocky's acquittal on criminal charges in 2022, Relli is moving forward with a civil defamation lawsuit against the rapper.

The dispute stems from an alleged altercation between the two in 2021, where Relli claims Rocky fired a handgun at him twice. While Rocky was initially charged with two felony assault counts, he was ultimately acquitted following a high-profile trial earlier this year.

However, Relli is not letting the matter rest. He has separately brought a defamation lawsuit against both Rocky and his lawyer, Joe Tacopina. Relli alleges the duo smeared his name by publicly calling his shooting claims "extortion" and a "get-rich-quick-scheme."

On October 23, 2025, a judge in Los Angeles ruled that Relli's defamation case can move forward, denying Rocky and Tacopina's attempt to have it dismissed. The judge determined that Relli has established a valid defamation claim, as the lawyer's media statements were made to "shape public opinion" rather than advance a legal position.

With this latest ruling, the civil lawsuit is set to continue through the discovery process and potentially go to trial in January 2026. Relli is seeking financial damages from Rocky for assault, battery, and emotional distress related to the 2021 incident.

The ongoing legal battle between the former A$AP Mob associates underscores the complex and high-stakes nature of their dispute, which has now spilled over from the criminal justice system into the civil courts.