R&B Star Enters Plea in London Court, Remains Free to Tour Globally Until 2026 Trial
Grammy-winning R&B artist Chris Brown appeared in a London courtroom on Friday, June 20, 2025, and entered a not guilty plea to a charge stemming from an alleged incident at a nightclub in the city over two years ago. The plea allows the singer to continue his extensive world tour, including planned dates across the U.S. and Europe, while his legal case progresses.
Brown, 36, is accused of attempting to unlawfully and maliciously cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent. The charge relates to an alleged unprovoked attack on music producer Abe Diaw at Tape nightclub in London’s upscale Mayfair district on February 19, 2023.
Also charged in connection with the same alleged incident is Omololu Akinlolu, 39, an American musician known as “Hoody Baby.” Akinlolu also pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempting to cause GBH during the same hearing at Southwark Crown Court.
Allegations and Further Charges
Prosecutors allege that during the alleged incident at Tape nightclub, Brown initiated an attack on Diaw by repeatedly striking him with a bottle before following up with punches and kicks. Surveillance footage from the club, reportedly witnessed by many people, is cited by the prosecution in support of these claims.
In addition to the attempted GBH charge, both Chris Brown and Omololu Akinlolu face a further charge of assaulting Mr. Diaw, occasioning him actual bodily harm (ABH). Chris Brown also faces a separate charge of having an offensive weapon – specifically the bottle – in a public place at the time of the alleged assault. Pleas for these additional charges were not entered at the June 20 hearing.
Arrest, Bail, and Court Schedule
Brown’s court appearance followed his arrest in May 2025 at a hotel in Greater Manchester, where he had traveled as part of his tour preparations. After an initial appearance at Manchester Magistrates’ Court, he was reportedly remanded in custody but subsequently released on bail. His release required him to pay a substantial security fee to the court, reported to be £5 million (equivalent to over $6.7 million USD).
Under the terms of his conditional bail, Brown is required to reside at a specified address in the UK and surrender his passport. However, his legal team successfully negotiated with the court to permit him to travel internationally for his ongoing “Breezy Bowl XX” world tour. Upon his release, Brown reportedly shared a post referencing going “FROM THE CAGE TO THE STAGE!!!,” signaling his return to performing.
The court has scheduled a further hearing for July 11, 2025, where pleas for the remaining assault and offensive weapon charges are expected to be addressed. The trial for the case has been set for October 26, 2026, and is anticipated to last between five and seven days.
Touring Continues
Despite the serious nature of the charges and the distant trial date, Chris Brown’s tour is proceeding as planned. Having already commenced with recent dates in the UK, including a performance in Cardiff, upcoming stops include highly anticipated shows at major venues like the 60,000-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, as well as dates in Birmingham, Glasgow, Ireland, and other European locations.
Later this summer, the tour is scheduled to return to North America for performances across the U.S. and Canada, including two nights in August at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., as mentioned in the original court proceedings allowing his travel.
If convicted of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, Brown faces a potential prison sentence ranging from two to 16 years. Approximately 20 people, including many fans, attended the public gallery at Southwark Crown Court for the recent hearing.
