US singer Chris Brown has officially pleaded not guilty in court to two charges related to an alleged bottle attack that occurred at a London nightclub two years ago. The 36-year-old R&B star faces accusations of causing actual bodily harm to a music producer during an incident that prosecutors have labeled as unprovoked. In addition to this charge, he is also accused of possessing an offensive weapon, specifically a tequila bottle. These charges were added last month to a more serious accusation of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), to which Mr. Brown has already entered a plea of not guilty. The singer is scheduled to face trial in October 2026.
During the latest plea hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London, Chris Brown appeared in a stylish brown suit complemented by dark-rimmed glasses. As he arrived, he acknowledged his supporters with a brief wave before placing his hand on his chest. Approximately 20 fans gathered in the public gallery to show their support, with two of them expressing their affection by shouting, "We love you, Chris," as he exited the courtroom.
Prosecutors have detailed that the alleged victim, Abraham Diaw, was standing at the bar of Soho's Tape nightclub on February 19, 2023, when Mr. Brown reportedly struck him multiple times with a bottle. The singer's legal troubles escalated when he was arrested at the five-star Lowry Hotel in Salford, Greater Manchester, in May, after returning to the UK to prepare for a European tour. He remained in custody for nearly a week before being released after agreeing to pay a £5 million security fee to the court. This security fee acts as a financial guarantee to ensure that a defendant returns to court, and Mr. Brown could lose this money if he violates his bail conditions.
As part of his bail conditions, Chris Brown is required to reside at a specified address in the UK while awaiting trial and has been instructed to surrender his passport to the police. However, a plan was established that allows him to fulfill his commitments for the Breezy Bowl XX world tour by temporarily surrendering his passport and retrieving it when necessary for travel to his concert dates. The tour kicked off in Amsterdam on June 8 and includes a series of stadium and arena shows throughout the UK and Europe, concluding in Paris last weekend. The North American leg of his tour is set to commence later this month.
Chris Brown is recognized as one of the most successful stars in US R&B, boasting two Grammy Awards and 19 top 10 singles in the UK. His hits include popular tracks like Turn Up The Music, Freaky Friday, With You, and Don't Wake Me Up. In connection with this case, his co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, a 39-year-old American artist known as HoodyBaby, has also pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing actual bodily harm and previously entered a not guilty plea to the attempted grievous bodily harm charge.
