Chris Brown, the Grammy-winning R&B singer, was arrested in England on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in connection with an alleged assault that occurred at a London nightclub in February 2023. The Metropolitan Police took the 36-year-old into custody in Manchester on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.
The alleged incident took place at Tape nightclub in London's Mayfair district. Brown is accused of attacking music producer Abe Diaw. According to reports, the singer allegedly struck Diaw multiple times with a bottle before punching and kicking him while he was on the ground. Diaw told The Sun that the attack was unprovoked and left him hospitalized, needing crutches to walk. He has filed a civil claim seeking $16 million in damages. In the lawsuit, Diaw alleges that Brown beat him and inflicted "crushing blows" to the head, causing him to lose consciousness. He further claims that Brown continued to stomp on him for about 30 seconds.
The Sun newspaper reportedly became aware of Brown's presence in the UK on Wednesday and contacted the police to inquire whether he would be arrested. Met officers then traveled to Manchester and made the arrest at a hotel. A statement from the Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of a 36-year-old man in Manchester on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, in connection to an incident at a venue in Hanover Square on February 19, 2023. Under British law, the police are restricted from naming suspects before charges are officially filed to ensure a fair trial.
Brown was in the UK for his "Breezy Bowl XX" tour, with 10 shows scheduled to begin on June 15 at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester. It remains uncertain how the arrest will impact these tour dates.
This is not the first time Chris Brown has faced legal trouble. He has a history of legal issues dating back to 2009, when he was convicted of felony assault against his then-girlfriend Rihanna. In 2014, he pleaded guilty to assaulting a man outside a hotel in Washington, D.C. In 2024, Brown and his entourage allegedly assaulted several men who attended his concert in Texas. Earlier this year, Brown also sued Warner Bros. Discovery for defamation, regarding the singer being labeled as an abuser in the 2024 documentary "Chris Brown: A History of Violence".
