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R&B singer Chris Brown, 36, has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent over an alleged assault at a London nightclub in February 2023, the Metropolitan Police has said. Brown is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning.
Brown was arrested at a five-star hotel in Manchester over an alleged bottle attack in a London club. The controversial singer had arrived into Manchester on a private jet on Wednesday afternoon.
He was staying at The Lowry Hotel when the Metropolitan Police arrested him shortly after 2am on Thursday. Brown was reportedly arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm to music producer Abe Diaw at Tape nightclub in 2023.
Adele Kelly, the Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London North, said: “We have authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge Chris Brown with one count of grievous bodily harm, contrary to section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
“The alleged incident occurred in London on 19 February 2023. He will have his first court appearance on Friday 16 May at Manchester Magistrates’ Court. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
After discovering Brown was in the country, Metropolitan Police detectives then travelled to Manchester where they arrested him. The Met spokesman said: “A 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester shortly after 02:00hrs on Thursday, 15 May on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. He had been taken into custody where he remains.
“The arrest relates to an incident at a venue in Hanover Square on 19 February 2023. The investigation is being led by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit.’’
Music producer Abe Diaw claimed he was assaulted by Brown in a lawsuit in October 2023. Court documents alleged that Brown “inflicted severe and lasting injuries” after “beating [the music producer] over the head.”
According to the lawsuit, the incident occurred in February of 2023 at the Tape London nightclub and the musician allegedly used a bottle of Don Julio 1942 tequila.
After the initial hit with the bottle, Chris allegedly ‘ruthlessly stomped on’ and kick plaintiff Amadou “Abe” Diaw in the neck which rendered him unconscious for 30 seconds.
The music producer was rushed to the hospital as a result of the injuries he received, according to the documents attained by Page Six.
He also alleged he had “lacerations on his head and torn ligaments in his leg” and further asserted he had “suffered serious and permanent emotional distress and trauma.”
Brown is set to play ten shows across the UK and Ireland in June and July for his 2025 Breezy Bowl XX tour, which starts in Manchester and ends back in the city. He is due to perform in Cardiff, London, Birmingham, Dublin and Glasgow.
In February, he won his second Grammy after 20 years. He won Best R&B Album for his work on B11:11, outshining Muni Long’s Public Displays of Affection. Lucky Daye’s Candydrip, Usher’s My Way and Lalah Hathaway’s self-titled album.
Despite three nominations at this year’s Grammys, Brown only secured the one trophy. He had previously won in the same category for his album FA.M.E. at the 54th Grammy Awards.
Brown made sure to celebrate his Grammy achievement as he took to social media to declare: “WE DID IT! ! ! ! ! ! !”
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