ASAP Relli has been advised to not seek a defamation lawsuit against his former friend, ASAP Rocky.
In February, the Highest 2 Lowest star was found not guilty on felony assault charges involving a 2021 confrontation between him and Relli. The plaintiff, real name Terell Ephron, is now pursuing a civil assault and battery lawsuit against Rocky, born Rakim Mayers.
After the initial trial, Relli accused Rocky and his lawyer, Joe Tacopina, of dubbing him a con artist and extortionist and also wants to pursue a defamation lawsuit. But to prevent financial woes, Los Angeles Judge Randolph M. Hammock warned Relli not to move forward with the case during a hearing via telephone.
Rocky's attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the case on free speech grounds. If that succeeds, Relli could be ordered to pay Rocky's substantial legal fees.
"I would urge you to contact the other side and see if a deal can be made,” Judge Hammock said, according to Rolling Stone. "Maybe in exchange for dismissing the lawsuit, they’ll drop their claim for fees. … Maybe it’s time to cut your losses."
Judge Hammock added, "I’m not talking chump change here. It would be tens of thousands, easily."
Relli replied by saying he's "invested over $500,000" after being abandoned by his previous law firm "at the last minute."
"So now, I’m stuck on my own. I’m just fighting for my rights here," Ephron continued.
Judge Hammock proceeded by explaining that the motion was "highly technical" and has to do with the "First Amendment."
"They have to [show] this is a matter of public interest. They probably will show that. I’m pretty sure they will," Hammock added.
"I think your case has gotten some press, okay? And I know that Mr. Mayers was recently acquitted. … Maybe you can reflect upon this case and what you want to do," the judge concluded.
Relli claimed that during the 2021 encounter, Rocky fired a gun at him in Hollywood. The rapper maintained his innocence and faced a maximum of twenty years in the trial. The three-week trial ended with the jury accepting the defense's argument that Rocky was using a prop gun.