Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to Assault Charges Over London Nightclub Fight

LONDON — Chris Brown appeared in a London court on Friday (June 20) to plead not guilty to a charge of serious assault.

The Grammy Award-winning singer is facing multiple charges in relation to an alleged physical dispute with a music producer. The alleged incident took place in a nightclub in Mayfair, London in February 2023.

Brown has been charged with one count of unlawfully and maliciously causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and additional counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, and having an offensive weapon, a bottle.

The 36-year-old artist appeared at Southwark’s Crown Court in relation to the GBH count, and responded “not guilty, ma’am” to the court clerk when asked to enter his plea.

Brown was arrested by police in Manchester on May 15 as he arrived in Europe for his Breezy Bowl XX tour which includes multiple stops in the U.K., including at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (June 21) and Manchester’s Co-op Live (June 24, July 3).

Following his arrest, Brown was released on bail at $6.75 million and allowed to begin his Breezy Bowl XX European dates in Amsterdam (June 8). On May 21, Brown made his first public statement on the case, posting on his Instagram “FROM THE CAGE TO THE STAGE!!!” after spending a week behind bars in custody.

Brown was ordered to return to court on July 11 to enter his plea on the additional counts. A trial date was set for Oct. 26. 2026.

Prosecutors allege that Brown and fellow musician Omololu Akinlolu, who performs under the name “Hoody Baby,” assaulted producer Abe Diaw at Tape nightclub in London. It is alleged that Brown launched an unprovoked attack on Diaw, and hit him several times with a bottle and continued to punch and kick him. Akinlolu also pleaded not guilty to the same charge.

Brown’s Breezy Bowl XX’s European leg will conclude in Portimão, Portugal on July 9. He’ll then tour North American stadiums through the summer, commencing at Miami’s LoanDepot Park on July 30.