American R&B star Chris Brown on Friday pleaded not guilty in a London court to charges stemming from an alleged nightclub assault that occurred during his UK tour in 2023.
The 36-year-old singer, dressed in a navy-blue three-piece suit and glasses, appeared at a central London court where he denied a charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. Brown, who is currently on the UK leg of his international “Breezybowl” tour, stood in the dock and answered, “Not guilty, ma’am,” when the charge was read.
The court set a five to seven-day trial beginning on October 26, 2026. Brown, currently free on £5 million ($6.7 million) bail, faces the loss of that amount if he fails to appear for court proceedings. Additional bail conditions include surrendering his passport when not touring, residing at an address known to the court, and avoiding both the alleged victim and the Tape nightclub in Hanover Square, where the incident allegedly took place.
The charges relate to an altercation on February 19, 2023, during which Brown is accused of striking a man with a bottle and then allegedly punching and kicking him. The victim, Abraham Diah, sustained injuries reportedly requiring medical treatment.
Brown’s co-defendant, Akinlolu, also pleaded not guilty to the same charge. Both men face an additional joint charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, with pleas for that charge due in court on July 11. Brown also faces a third charge of possessing an offensive weapon in public, specifically the bottle allegedly used in the assault.
After spending nearly, a week in jail last month, Brown was released and granted permission to continue his tour, which began in Amsterdam on June 8. He is scheduled to perform in London on Saturday, followed by shows in Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin, and Glasgow, before heading to France, Portugal, and concluding in Memphis, USA, in October.
Known for his early hits like “Kiss Kiss” and his rise from a church choir in Virginia to international fame, Brown has had a career shadowed by multiple legal issues. Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, he has continued to draw large crowds and maintain a loyal fan base.
Written By Rodney Mbua
