American R&B singer Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from an alleged London nightclub brawl in 2023. The 36-year-old singer stood in the dock at Southwark Crown Court in London, wearing a dark suit and tie, and replied “Not guilty, ma’am” when the charge was put to him.
Brown is accused of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, allegedly striking the victim several times with a bottle before pursuing, punching and kicking him. The alleged incident took place at a nightclub in Hanover Square, London, on February 19, 2023. Brown’s co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, a US national, also entered a not guilty plea to the same charge.
Brown was granted bail set at £5 million ($6.7 million), which he will forfeit if he fails to return for court proceedings. As part of his bail terms, he is required to surrender his passport if not traveling, live at a specific address known to the court, and avoid visiting the nightclub where the alleged assault occurred or contacting the victim, Abraham Diah. A five to seven-day trial is scheduled to start on October 26, 2026.
In addition to the charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent, Brown and Akinlolu are jointly charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, to which they will enter pleas on July 11.
Brown also faces a third charge of having an offensive weapon, a bottle, in public. Despite these charges, Brown has been allowed to continue his scheduled international tour, which began on June 8 in Amsterdam and includes performances in France, Portugal, and the US before wrapping up in Memphis in mid-October.
The allegations against Brown stem from an incident at a London nightclub in February 2023, where he allegedly assaulted a man with a bottle, causing serious injuries. The victim, Abraham Diah, has reportedly suffered significant harm, and the investigation is ongoing. Brown’s defense team maintains that he is innocent and will vigorously contest the charges.