Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to Additional Charges in London Nightclub Assault Case
Grammy-winning R&B artist Chris Brown appeared at Southwark Crown Court in London on Friday, July 11, 2025, where he formally pleaded not guilty to two additional charges connected to an alleged violent assault involving a music producer at a London nightclub in 2023.
The 36-year-old singer, dressed in a light brown suit, denied charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm to producer Abraham Diaw and possession of an offensive weapon—a bottle—during a brief but closely watched court appearance. These charges follow his earlier not guilty plea to a more serious count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, which was entered during a separate hearing last month.
The alleged incident occurred on February 19, 2023, at Tape, an exclusive nightclub in London’s upscale Mayfair district. Prosecutors allege that Brown struck Diaw multiple times with a glass bottle before pursuing him to another area of the club, where he was allegedly punched and kicked.
Brown’s co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, a 39-year-old U.S. national, also faces related charges and has likewise pleaded not guilty.
Friday’s court session drew significant public and media attention, with reports noting audible gasps from the approximately 20 supporters present as Brown entered the courtroom. Despite the gravity of the allegations, the singer has continued his international stadium tour, recently performing in Cardiff as part of celebrations marking 20 years in the music industry.
Brown remains free on conditional bail, having posted a £5 million security bond to ensure his cooperation with the legal process. He was previously arrested in May 2025 at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel while on tour and later detained at HMP Forest Bank in Salford before being released.
The case, which has garnered widespread public and media interest due to Brown’s high-profile status and the severity of the allegations, is scheduled to go to trial in October 2025.