American R&B singer Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty to a serious assault charge in the United Kingdom. He appeared in a London court on Friday to deny that he tried to seriously harm someone during a nightclub fight in 2023.
Brown, 36, stood in the dock wearing a dark suit, tie, and glasses. When the judge read the charge, he replied, “Not guilty, ma’am.” The charge is for attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
The incident allegedly happened at a nightclub in Hanover Square, London, on February 19, 2023. According to reports, the victim was hit several times with a bottle, then chased, punched, and kicked.
Police arrested Brown in Manchester on May 13, 2024, at a five-star hotel. He was held in custody for nearly a week before being released on £5 million bail. He must return to court or risk losing the money.
A trial is set to begin on October 26, 2026, and is expected to last five to seven days.
Under his bail terms, Brown must live at a specific address known to the court. He is not allowed to visit the nightclub where the incident happened or contact the alleged victim, Abraham Diah. He must also surrender his passport if not travelling.
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The court also gave Brown permission to continue his international tour, which started on June 8 in Amsterdam. His next show is scheduled in London on Saturday. He is also expected to perform in France, Portugal, and the United States before ending the tour in Memphis in October.
Brown appeared in court with another man, Omololu Akinlolu, a U.S. national. Both are charged with the same offense. Akinlolu also pleaded not guilty. They are also jointly charged with a second offense—assault causing actual bodily harm—and will respond to that charge on July 11.
Brown faces an additional charge for having an offensive weapon—a bottle—in public.
Chris Brown became famous in the mid-2000s for hits like “Kiss Kiss.” He rose from singing in a church choir in Virginia to international fame but has faced several legal troubles over the years, including a widely known assault case involving singer Rihanna.