Chris Brown pleads not guilty to London nightclub assault charges

Grammy-winning artist Chris Brown appeared in court in London on Friday, June 20, where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of grievous bodily harm stemming from a 2023 nightclub incident. The 36-year-old singer is accused of assaulting music producer Abraham Diaw at the upscale Tape nightclub in Mayfair in what prosecutors have described as an unprovoked attack.

Brown is alleged to have struck Diaw multiple times with a tequila bottle before continuing the assault by punching and kicking him. Prosecutors also stated the violent episode was caught on surveillance footage and witnessed by numerous club-goers. Alongside Brown, fellow musician and friend Omololu Akinlolu, known professionally as Hoody Baby, also pleaded not guilty to the same charge.

Additional charges were added to Brown’s indictment ahead of Friday’s hearing. These include assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon—in this case, the bottle allegedly used in the attack. However, the court has adjourned Brown’s plea on these new charges until July 11.

Brown, who performed to a packed stadium in Cardiff just hours before his court appearance, is currently out on bail set at £5 million (approximately $6.75 million). The substantial bail amount enabled him to begin his world tour earlier this month despite the looming legal case.

The trial is set to begin on October 26, 2026. Until then, Brown will remain free under bail conditions while continuing to face serious legal scrutiny over the alleged violent incident.