By Shameeka Voyiya
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.
The R&B star was arrested by Metropolitan Police detectives at a hotel in Manchester in May, following the singer’s arrival in the city by private jet as part of his world tour.
He is accused of attacking music producer Abraham Diaw with a bottle during an incident at Tape, a popular nightlife spot in the Mayfair area of London.
Singer pleads not guilty
Brown has been charged with one count of unlawfully and maliciously causing grievous bodily harm with intent plus additional counts of assault causing actual bodily harm and having an offensive weapon.
According to Sky News, during a hearing at Manchester Magistrates’ Court last month, Brown watched intently as brief details of the case against him were outlined by prosecutor Hannah Nicholls.
She accused Brown of committing “an unprovoked attack with a weapon in a nightclub full of people”.
The court then heard how Mr Diaw was standing at the bar of the nightclub when he was struck several times with a bottle before being pursued to a separate area of the venue, where he was punched and kicked repeatedly.
The singer was remanded in custody following that initial hearing in Manchester but released ahead of his court appearance after paying a £5 million security fee to the court.
Brown confirmed his name and date of birth at Southwark Crown Court on Friday before entering his plea, saying: “Not guilty, ma’am.”
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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.
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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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