Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from an alleged assault at a London nightclub in February 2023. The Grammy-winning R&B singer appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on Friday, June 20, 2025, where he denied one count of attempting to unlawfully and maliciously cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
The charges relate to an incident at Tape London, a nightclub in Mayfair, where Brown is accused of attacking music producer Amadou "Abe" Diaw. Prosecutors allege that Brown struck Diaw multiple times with a bottle before punching and kicking him. The alleged attack was reportedly captured on surveillance footage.
Brown was initially arrested in May 2025 on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. However, prosecutors later added two more charges: assault causing actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon, specifically the bottle. Brown did not enter pleas for these additional charges during Friday's hearing. He is scheduled to return to court on July 11, 2025, to address these charges after completing the European leg of his current world tour.
Brown's friend and fellow musician, Omololu Akinlolu, also known as "Hoody Baby," is also implicated in the alleged assault and has pleaded not guilty to the same charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
Following his arrest in May, Brown was held in custody for nearly a week before being released on a £5 million ($6.75 million) bail. The hefty bail amount allowed him to proceed with his "Breezy Bowl XX" tour, which commenced earlier this month. After his release, Brown posted on Instagram, "FROM THE CAGE TO THE STAGE!!! BREEZYBOWL."
The trial for the case is set to begin on October 26, 2026, and is expected to last five to seven days. Until then, Brown is allowed to continue his tour, with Judge Tony Baumgartner granting permission for him to fulfill his scheduled performances. He is currently on the UK leg of his international tour, with upcoming shows in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin, and Glasgow.
The accusations against Brown echo allegations made in a civil lawsuit filed by Diaw in Los Angeles in October 2023. In the lawsuit, Diaw claims that Brown "brutally assaulted" him by "beating him over the head" with a bottle of Don Julio tequila and continued to "ruthlessly stomp" on him while he was unconscious on the nightclub floor. Diaw alleges that he suffered "severe and lasting" injuries, including lacerations on his head and torn ligaments in his leg.
The case has drawn significant media attention, with photographers gathering outside Southwark Crown Court on Friday. Brown, dressed in a blue suit, white shirt, and black-rimmed glasses, acknowledged fans in the public gallery as he departed the courthouse.
