Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to London Nightclub Assault Charges, Trial Set for October 2026

In a significant legal development, American R&B superstar Chris Brown has officially entered a plea of not guilty to two assault charges stemming from an alleged incident at a London nightclub two years ago. The plea, entered at Southwark Crown Court, addresses accusations of actual bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon – specifically, a tequila bottle – during what prosecutors have described as an “unprovoked attack” on a music producer.

The 36-year-old Grammy Award-winning artist, known for his string of UK hits including “Turn Up The Music,” “Freaky Friday,” and “With You,” appeared in court on Friday dressed in a brown suit and dark-rimmed glasses. This plea follows his earlier not guilty plea to a more serious charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH). The trial for all charges is slated to commence in October 2026.

Brown’s legal team has been working closely with the court regarding his international touring schedule. He was initially arrested last month at the Lowry hotel in Salford, Greater Manchester, upon his return to the UK for his European tour. After being held for nearly a week, he was released on bail, having provided a substantial security fee of £5 million. This financial guarantee is intended to ensure his appearance at future court dates, with the potential for forfeiture should he violate his bail conditions.

Under the terms of his bail, Brown is required to reside at a UK address while awaiting trial and has surrendered his passport. However, a specific arrangement has been made to allow him to travel for his “Breezy Bowl XX” world tour. This allows him to temporarily regain his passport for concert dates, provided he surrenders it upon his return to the UK. His tour kicked off in Amsterdam on June 8th and includes numerous stadium and arena performances across the UK and Europe.

The incident in question allegedly occurred on February 19, 2023, at the Tape nightclub in London’s Soho. Prosecutors claim that the alleged victim, Abraham Diaw, was at the bar when Brown approached and struck him multiple times with a tequila bottle. Brown’s co-defendant, 39-year-old American performer Omololu Akinlolu, professionally known as HoodyBaby, has also pleaded not guilty to the attempted grievous bodily harm charge.

With a career marked by immense success, including two Grammy Awards and 19 UK top 10 singles, Chris Brown remains a prominent figure in the music industry. His legal proceedings are closely watched, highlighting the intersection of celebrity, law, and personal conduct.