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A$AP Rocky has pleaded not guilty to allegations he fired a gun at a former friend and collaborator outside a Hollywood hotel in 2021.

A Los Angeles judge had previously found there was enough evidence for the rapper to stand trial after hearing testimony at a preliminary hearing.

Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm.

He allegedly pointed a handgun at Terell Ephron in November 2021 and allegedly fired the weapon in his direction in a subsequent confrontation.

After the musician entered his plea, Superior Court Judge Karla Kerlin set the next pre-trial date for 6 March – and the court heard a trial must take place within 45 days after that date.

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Outside court, defence lawyer Joe Tacopina said the rapper was confident he would be vindicated and was eager to get a trial “over with so he can start enjoying his family”, Rolling Stone reported.

He could be handed a sentence of up to 24 years in prison if convicted on all charges, prosecutors said.

The 35-year-old Grammy nominee and fashion mogul is in a relationship with Rihanna, with whom he has two young sons, RZA and Riot Rose.

Rihanna and ASAP Rocky at the 2023 Costume Institute Benefit Gala celebrating the opening of the exhibition "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty"  
Pic:AP
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Rihanna and A$AP Rocky at the 2023 Met Gala. Pic: AP

Sitting in court wearing a grey suit with a white pin-striped shirt and navy striped tie, the rapper wished the judge a Happy New Year and gave his lawyers authorisation to appear on his behalf without his attendance at future hearings.

Rocky was previously given a two-year suspended sentence for assault during a fight in Stockholm, Sweden, in August 2019.

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Unreleased Beyonce music stolen from car

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Unreleased Beyonce music stolen from car

Unreleased Beyonce music – along with footage and show plans – has been stolen from a car in Atlanta, police say.

The vehicle had been rented by the star’s choreographer and a dancer last week.

But on 8 July – just before she was about to begin a four days of performances in the city – the SUV’s back window was smashed, and two suitcases were taken.

Two MacBook laptops, Apple headphones and luxury clothes are also missing – alongside the five thumb drives containing the songs.

An arrest warrant has been issued for a suspect, but their identity has been withheld.

“Light prints” have been detected at the scene, and the robbery was captured on CCTV.

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MasterChef presenter John Torode says allegation he used racist language upheld in report

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MasterChef presenter John Torode says allegation he used racist language upheld in report

MasterChef presenter John Torode says an allegation he used “racial language” was upheld in a report as part of a review into the behaviour of his former co-presenter Gregg Wallace.

The report, led by law firm Lewis Silkin, found 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated.

There were also two standalone allegations made against other people.

In a statement posted on his Instagram page, Torode said he was one of those people, but added that he had “no recollection of the incident” and said he “did not believe that it happened”.

He commented: “Following publication of the executive summary of the investigation into Gregg Wallace while working on MasterChef, I am aware of speculation that I am one of the two other individuals against whom an allegation has been upheld.

“For the sake of transparency, I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion.

“The allegation is that I did so sometime in 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards.

“I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened.

“However, I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. I’m shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.”

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Gregg Wallace: Over half of allegations against MasterChef presenter substantiated, including one of unwanted physical contact

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Gregg Wallace: Over half of allegations against MasterChef presenter substantiated, including one of unwanted physical contact

An investigation into Gregg Wallace’s “inappropriate behaviour” on MasterChef has found that more than half of the allegations against him have been substantiated, including one of “unwanted physical contact”.

MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK shared a summary of its report into historical allegations of misconduct against the 60-year-old presenter, carried out by independent law firm Lewis Silkin over seven months.

The report also said the number of sustained allegations made Wallace’s return to MasterChef “untenable”.

The investigation heard evidence from 78 witnesses, including 41 complainants.

There were 83 allegations against Wallace, and 45 of them were substantiated. All were related to MasterChef.

While the majority of the substantiated allegations related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated.

One allegation of unwanted physical contact was substantiated.

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Nearly all the allegations against Wallace were related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018, with just one substantiated allegation taking place post-2018.

Wallace and Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2014
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Wallace and Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2014

Ahead of the publication of the summary, Wallace had said he had been “cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations” made against him.

Additionally, the report summary found that there were also 10 standalone allegations about other people between 2012 and 2018/2019, two of which were substantiated. Those people were not named in the summary.

The investigation found that complaints had previously been raised with the production company between 2005 and 2024.

Gregg Wallace on MasterChef. Pic: BBC/ Shine TV 2024
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Gregg Wallace on MasterChef. Pic: BBC/ Shine TV 2024

While the report flagged inadequate reporting procedures prior to 2016, when Endemol merged with Shine ahead of Banijay acquiring Endemol Shine in 2020, it said there were significant improvements to HR processes and training after 2016.

While the investigation said some formal action was taken by the BBC in 2017, it also noted the corporation held no information regarding concerns raised over Wallace centrally, resulting in issues being addressed as a first offence.

Sky News has tried to contact Gregg Wallace for contact today.

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