Eric Patrick
Grammy-winning American R&B star Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, in connection with an alleged nightclub assault in London in 2023.
The 36-year-old singer appeared in a London courtroom on Friday, dressed in a dark suit, tie, and glasses. Standing in the dock, Brown responded, “Not guilty, ma’am,” as the charge was read aloud. He later waved to fans and supporters seated in the public gallery before exiting the court.
The charge stems from a February 19, 2023 incident at a nightclub in Hanover Square, central London.
Brown is accused of repeatedly striking the alleged victim, Abraham Diah, with a bottle before chasing him, and then punching and kicking him. He is also facing a separate charge of possessing an offensive weapon—namely, the bottle allegedly used in the attack.
Brown was arrested on May 13, 2024, at a luxury hotel in Manchester after arriving in the UK via private jet. He spent nearly a week in custody before being granted bail.
He is currently free on a £5 million ($6.7 million) bail bond. As part of his bail conditions, Brown must reside at a court-approved address, surrender his passport when not traveling, avoid contact with the alleged victim, and stay away from the nightclub where the incident took place. He risks forfeiting the bond if he fails to comply with these terms.
Despite the charges, Brown is allowed to continue his ongoing international tour, which kicked off on June 8 in Amsterdam. His next scheduled performance is in London on Saturday, with additional stops in France, Portugal, and the United States. The tour is expected to wrap up in Memphis this October.
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Brown appeared in court alongside co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, also a U.S. citizen, who entered a not guilty plea to the same charge. Both men face an additional count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, for which pleas will be entered on July 11.
A trial, expected to last five to seven days, has been scheduled to begin on October 26, 2026.
Brown, who rose to fame as a teenager with hits like “Kiss Kiss” and “With You”, has had a long and often turbulent career. He previously made global headlines in 2009 following his conviction for assaulting fellow artist Rihanna, a case that continues to shape public perception of the singer.