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Chris Brown pleads not guilty to more assault charges

Steven McIntosh
Entertainment reporter
Reuters U.S. singer Chris Brown, who has been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm in what prosecutors said was an "unprovoked attack" on a music producer at the Tape nightclub in central London in 2023, walks outside the Southwark Crown Court in London, Britain, July 11, 2025.Reuters
Chris Brown was arrested in May after arriving in the UK to prepare for a stadium and arena tour

US singer Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty in court to two charges relating to an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub two years ago.

The 36-year-old star is accused of causing actual bodily harm to a music producer during an incident that prosecutors have described as "unprovoked".

He is also charged with having an offensive weapon - namely a tequila bottle.

The two charges were added last month to a more serious count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), to which Mr Brown has already pleaded not guilty. The singer will face trial in October 2026.

PA Media R&B singer Chris Brown arrives at Southwark Crown Court, south London, where he is charged over an alleged assault in a London nightclub. The American musician, 36, is accused of causing grievous bodily harm to Abraham Diaw in February 2023. Picture date: Friday July 11, 2025.PA Media
Chris Brown arrived at Southwark Crown Court on Friday morning

He wore a brown suit with dark rimmed glasses to the latest plea hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London on Friday.

He gave a brief wave as he arrived before putting his hand to his chest. About 20 fans turned up to support him in the public gallery, with two saying "we love you Chris" as he left the court.

Prosecutors have previously said the alleged victim, Abraham Diaw, was standing at the bar of Soho's Tape nightclub on 19 February 2023 when Mr Brown struck him several times with a bottle.

The singer was arrested at the five-star Lowry hotel in Salford, Greater Manchester, in May, after returning to the UK to prepare for a European tour.

He was held in custody for almost a week, before being released after agreeing to pay a £5m security fee to the court.

A security fee is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court. Mr Brown could be asked to forfeit the money if he breaches bail conditions.

Under those conditions, Mr Brown must live at an address in the UK while awaiting trial, and was ordered to surrender his passport to police.

However, a plan was put in place allowing him to honour his Breezy Bowl XX world tour dates by surrendering his passport but getting it back when he needs to travel to the gigs.

The first date took place in Amsterdam on 8 June, before a string of stadium and arena shows across the UK and Europe, which ended in Paris last weekend. The North American leg of his tour is due to start later this month.

Mr Brown is one of the biggest stars in US R&B, with two Grammy Awards, and 19 top 10 singles in the UK - including hits like Turn Up The Music, Freaky Friday, With You and Don't Wake Me Up.

His co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, a 39-year-old American who performs under the name HoodyBaby, also pleaded not guilty to causing actual bodily harm. He previously entered a not guilty plea to the charge of attempted grievous bodily harm.