Chris Brown Charged with GBH After London Nightclub Fistfight
R&B Star Nabbed in Manchester
Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown, 36, has been slapped with a serious charge of grievous bodily harm with intent. Police arrested him in Manchester just after 2am on 15 May at The Lowry Hotel, following a joint operation between the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester authorities. He remains in custody.
Attack at Mayfair Nightclub
The charge stems from a violent incident in February 2023 at Tape nightclub in Mayfair. Brown allegedly struck music producer Abe Diaw over the head with a bottle, then punched and kicked him while he was on the ground during a Dirty Martini night. Diaw was hospitalised and later filed a staggering £12 million civil claim.
Adele Kelly, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS London North, confirmed: “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.”
Tour in Turmoil
Brown had flown into the UK on a private jet just a day before his arrest, purportedly to rehearse for his upcoming “Breezy Bowl XX Tour”, marking 20 years in music. The 20-date European tour kicks off 8 June in Amsterdam, with major UK shows lined up at:
- 15-16 June: Manchester’s Co-Op Live
- 19 June: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
- 21 June: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
- 26 June: Villa Park, Birmingham
- 1 July: Hampden Park, Glasgow
Opening act Bryson Tiller is expected to join Brown for the UK and European dates. The star is due in court at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 16 May 2025.
Legal Warning: No Prejudicing the Case
The Crown Prosecution Service has urged the public and media to tread carefully to avoid influencing the ongoing case:
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
The Met Police’s Central West Area Command remains in charge of the investigation.
Chris Brown’s Troubled Past
Known for hits and headlines alike, Brown first burst onto the scene in 2005 but carries a heavy legal baggage, including the infamous 2009 assault on singer Rihanna. This latest charge could further muddy the waters just as he aims for a global comeback.
