Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to London Nightclub Assault
American R&B singer Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted grievous bodily harm in connection with an alleged violent altercation that took place at a London nightclub over two years ago.
The 36-year-old appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, June 21, 2025, in relation to an incident involving music producer Abraham Diaw.
Prosecutors allege that Brown attacked Diaw with a tequila bottle in an “unprovoked” assault on February 19, 2023, at Tape nightclub in Soho.
Wearing a striking ocean blue suit and black-rimmed glasses, Brown arrived at the courthouse silently, passing a crowd of photographers and a handful of supportive fans.
Once inside the courtroom, he appeared composed, even smiling and winking at someone in the public gallery before proceedings began.
He confirmed his identity before clearly stating: “Not guilty, ma’am,” in response to the main charge.
The court also heard that two additional charges—assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon (the bottle)—have been added to the indictment.
However, Brown’s arraignment on these counts was adjourned until July 11, with a full trial scheduled to begin on October 26, 2026.
Brown’s co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, also known by his stage name HoodyBaby, likewise pleaded not guilty to the same charge of attempted GBH.
According to the prosecution, Brown allegedly struck Diaw multiple times with a glass bottle and then followed him into another area of the club where he and another individual continued the assault by punching and kicking him.
Brown was arrested last month at the prestigious Lowry Hotel in Manchester, shortly after arriving in the UK for the European leg of his “Breezy Bowl XX” world tour.
He was held in custody for nearly a week and was only released after agreeing to post a £5 million security bond—a rare move that guarantees his return for future court appearances.
As part of his bail conditions, Brown was ordered to surrender his passport, reside at a UK address while awaiting trial, and remain available to the court.
However, special arrangements were made to allow him to retrieve his passport temporarily for tour performances abroad.
His first post-release concert took place in Amsterdam on June 8, with the UK leg of his tour beginning shortly afterward.
During his Manchester show, Brown made light of his jail stint, joking, “And thank you to the jail—it was really nice,” before expressing gratitude to fans for their continued support.
Despite his legal woes, Brown’s career remains active. He recently won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist at the BET Awards in Los Angeles and is currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut album.
He is scheduled to perform next at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London this weekend.
Brown’s next court appearance will take place after his European tour concludes. If convicted, he could face serious legal consequences, casting a shadow over his long-running and high-profile music career.
Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to London Nightclub Assault