R&B singer Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to affray over a violent incident at a London nightclub in which a music producer was allegedly struck with a bottle.
Brown admitted the offence during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, July 23, in connection with the February 2023 incident at Tape nightclub in Mayfair, Central London. His co-defendant and vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, also pleaded guilty to affray.
Brown had originally been charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent but denied the allegation. Prosecutors later discontinued that charge, along with a separate charge of possessing an offensive weapon—a bottle—in a public place.
According to prosecutors, Brown struck producer Abe Diaw “several times” with a bottle before chasing him across the nightclub. He was further accused of punching and kicking Diaw alongside Akinlolu. The att@ck was reportedly captured on CCTV. Diaw was later treated in hospital for head and knee injuries.
Brown was arrested in Manchester after arriving in the UK aboard a private jet for his tour. He was later granted bail after paying a £5 million security fee and remains free under conditions that require him to surrender his passport when not travelling for performances.
Judge Tony Baumgartner ordered pre-sentence reports for both defendants and said, “I will order pre-sentence reports on each defendants and I keep all options open.” Brown and Akinlolu are scheduled to be sentenced on October 26. The maximum penalty for affray is three years’ imprisonment.
Following the court hearing, Brown smiled as he left the courthouse, signed autographs for fans and later posted on Instagram, “From the cage to the stage!”
Commenting on the case, Senior Crown Prosecutor Claire Campbell said, “This was a vicious and unprovoked attack by Brown and Akinlolu in a crowded nightclub where Brown used a glass bottle as a weapon to strike the victim’s head twice.”
She added, “This kind of violence is entirely unacceptable, and the Crown Prosecution Service will work tirelessly, with the police and partners across the criminal justice system – to pursue cases like this, and prove that no one is above the law.” Detective Constable Zara Ripamonti of the Metropolitan Police said, “This was a disgraceful, unprovoked ass@ult that put a man in hospital.”
She added, “There is no place for serious violence like this in London and I’m pleased these men accepted what they did wasn’t just completely unacceptable – but criminal. This has been a long investigation and we’ve worked with police colleagues in the UK to bring these two men to justice.”