US singer Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm during an alleged bottle attack at a nightclub in 2023.
Metropolitan Police detectives arrested the R&B star at a hotel in Manchester in May. Brown had arrived in the city by private jet for his world tour.
Police accuse Brown of attacking music producer Abraham Diaw with a bottle. The alleged incident took place at Tape nightclub in Mayfair, London.
Singer pleads not guilty
Chris Brown faces one count of unlawfully and maliciously causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
He also faces additional counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon.
According to Sky News, Brown attended a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court last month.
Prosecutor Hannah Nicholls outlined brief details of the case against him.
She accused Brown of committing “an unprovoked attack with a weapon in a nightclub full of people”.
The court heard that Diaw stood at the nightclub bar when the alleged attack began.
The prosecution said Brown struck him several times with a bottle.
Diaw then moved to another area of the venue, where the alleged attack continued.
The court heard that he suffered further punches and kicks.
Brown initially remained in custody after the Manchester hearing.
He later secured his release after paying a £5 million security fee to the court.
Brown appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Friday.
He confirmed his name and date of birth before entering his plea.
“Not guilty, ma’am,” Brown said.
2026 trial date set
The Grammy Award–winning singer was due to tour the UK in June and July, with dates in Manchester, Cardiff, London, Glasgow, and Birmingham.
Brown has now been ordered to return to court on July 11 to enter his plea on the additional counts.
Meanwhile, an official trial date has been set for 26 October 2026.
According to Billboard, it is alleged that Brown launched an unprovoked attack on Diaw and hit him several times with a bottle before continuing to punch and kick him.
Fellow musician Omololu Akinlolu, who was also involved in the incident, pleaded not guilty to the same charge.
Growing list of offences
This is not the first time Brown has found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, as he has been involved in various brawls and legal issues over the course of his two-decade career.
Back in July 2024, the singer received multiple assault allegations when four concertgoers alleged that Brown and members of his entourage “brutally and severely beat” them backstage after a show.
The men filed a lawsuit against the star, his entourage, and Live Nation for $50 million.
Brown was also arrested in 2013 for alleged felony assault and spent 36 hours in jail.
According to CNN, the charges against Brown and his bodyguard were eventually reduced to simple assault misdemeanors and the two were released without bail.
The singer was subsequently brought back to California to appear in court in Los Angeles and ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from the man he was accused of assaulting.
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