International R&B star Chris Brown has entered a not guilty plea in a UK court following allegations of a violent assault at a London nightclub in 2023.

The 36-year-old Grammy-winning artist appeared at a London court on Friday, facing a serious charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. Dressed in a dark suit, tie, and glasses, Brown stood calmly in the dock and responded to the charge with a firm, “Not guilty, ma’am.”

The charge stems from an incident on February 19, 2023, at a venue in Hanover Square, central London, where a man was allegedly struck repeatedly with a bottle and subsequently pursued, punched, and kicked. Brown was touring the UK at the time.

Also in the dock was co-accused Omololu Akinlolu, a U.S. national. Both men face the same charge and jointly entered not guilty pleas. They also face an additional charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, for which the court will hear their pleas on July 11. Brown faces a third count related to allegedly carrying an offensive weapon—a bottle—during the incident.

Brown was arrested on May 13 this year at a luxury hotel in Manchester, where he had reportedly arrived via private jet. He spent nearly a week in custody before being granted bail set at £5 million (approximately $6.7 million). Under the terms of his release, he must forfeit the full bail amount if he fails to attend future court proceedings. The court has also ordered him to surrender his passport when not traveling, reside at a known address, avoid contact with the alleged victim—identified as Abraham Diah—and stay away from the nightclub where the incident occurred.

Despite the charges, the singer was permitted to continue his international tour, which kicked off on June 8 in Amsterdam. Brown is currently on the UK leg, with his next performance slated for Saturday in London. The tour will later stop in France, Portugal, and the United States before concluding in Memphis this October.

The court scheduled the trial to commence on October 26, 2026, with proceedings expected to last five to seven days.

Chris Brown, known for hits such as “Kiss Kiss” and “Forever,” rose to fame from humble beginnings in Virginia. Though widely celebrated for his vocal talent and stage presence, his career has often been overshadowed by legal troubles and controversy—including his highly publicized past with singer Rihanna.

WafricNews will continue to follow this developing story as it unfolds.


By WafricNews Desk.