Chris Brown: US singer pleads guilty to affray over 'vicious' nightclub attack in London

US R&B artist Chris Brown has admitted to affray following an incident described by prosecutors as “a vicious and unprovoked attack” that occurred in a London nightclub in early 2023. Evidence, including CCTV footage, revealed that Brown struck the victim multiple times on the head using a glass bottle. The victim was then pursued, pushed down, and subjected to kicking.

Originally, Brown, aged 37, faced more severe accusations including assault, attempted grievous bodily harm, and possession of an offensive weapon—the tequila bottle used during the attack. He denied these charges. However, these more serious allegations were later withdrawn, and Brown is now set to be sentenced on the affray charge in October. Affray is legally defined as the use or threat of violence causing others to fear for their safety.

Brown’s co-defendant, 40-year-old rapper Omololu Akinlolu, who performs as Hoody Baby, also pleaded guilty to affray. The more serious charges against him were similarly dropped. Detective Constable Zara Ripamonti of the Metropolitan Police characterized the incident as “a disgraceful, unprovoked assault that put a man in hospital,” emphasizing that such acts of severe violence have no place in London. She noted the extensive nature of the investigation and praised the cooperation across police jurisdictions in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The assault took place at the Tape venue, a private members’ club in Mayfair, during the early hours of 19 February 2023. The Crown Prosecution Service detailed that Brown approached the victim on the dance floor before repeatedly hitting him on the head with a glass bottle. Akinlolu joined in by punching the victim in the head, and the assault continued as the victim tried to escape, only to be kicked while defenseless on the floor. The victim, identified as music producer Abe Diaw, required hospital treatment for injuries to his head and knees.

Claire Campbell, a senior crown prosecutor with CPS London South, described the attack as “vicious and unprovoked,” emphasizing that Brown used a glass bottle as a weapon to strike the victim’s head twice in a busy nightclub setting. Campbell underscored the CPS’s commitment to working with law enforcement and the wider criminal justice system to ensure that such violence is prosecuted and that no individual is considered above the law. Both Brown and Akinlolu entered their guilty pleas promptly at Southwark Crown Court, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for 26 October 2026.

Known for popular hits like “Loyal,” “Look At Me Now,” and “With You,” Chris Brown was seen arriving at the court wearing a beige suit and baseball cap, engaging with fans by shaking hands and signing autographs. His bail conditions included a substantial £5 million security payment and restrictions permitting his travel for a world tour, contingent on surrendering his passport upon entering each country. Previously, Brown had humorously referenced his time in jail while performing in Manchester in 2023, despite his recent legal troubles.

This is not Brown’s first legal controversy; in 2009, he pleaded guilty to assaulting fellow pop artist Rihanna. That case concluded with a sentence of 180 days of community labor and five years of probation. Brown later expressed remorse, describing himself as a “monster” and acknowledging the incident as something that would “haunt me forever.”

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