Singer Chris Brown pleads not guilty in London assault case
LONDON — Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown pleaded not guilty Friday to a charge related to the serious beating of a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub in 2023.
Brown, 36, pleaded not guilty in Southwark Crown Court to one count of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
Brown's friend and fellow musician Omololu Akinlolu, 38, who performs under the name 'Hoody Baby,' pleaded not guilty to the same charge.
Prosecutors said Brown and Akinlolu assaulted producer Abe Diaw at a bar in the Tape nightclub in the swanky Mayfair neighborhood in February 2023. Brown allegedly launched an unprovoked attack on Diaw and hit him several times with a bottle and then punched and kicked him.
The attack was caught on surveillance camera in front of a club full of people, prosecutors said.
Brown was released last month on 5 million-pound ($6.75 million) bail, which allowed him to start his world tour earlier this month.
Brown, who burst onto the music scene as a teen in 2005, won his first Grammy for best R&B album in 2011 for 'F.A.M.E.' and then earned his second in the same category for '11:11 (Deluxe)' earlier this year.
His hits include songs such as 'Run It,' 'Kiss Kiss' and 'Without You.'
His tour is due to kick off June 8 in Amsterdam before starting North America shows in July.
The Associated Press
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
17 minutes ago
- CBC
Police seek identity of man after assault victim hit head on pavement, left unconscious
Winnipeg police have released images from a security camera in the hope someone will recognize a man wanted in connection with a serious assault earlier this year that left another man unconscious. A 34-year-old man was found unconscious after he hit his head on the pavement following the assault on Navy Way, off Assiniboine Avenue, on April 19. He was rushed to hospital and stabilized before being released, but will require further medical treatment and is likely to have a lengthy recovery, police said in a news release on Friday. Investigators say the 34-year-old got into a verbal argument with a man who was causing a disturbance outside his home around 5 p.m. The 34-year-old went outside and was immediately assaulted and thrown to the ground, hitting his head, police said. Witnesses described the attacker as tall, about 25-30 years old, with shaggy brown hair and a short brown beard. He was wearing light blue jeans, white Nike runners with a black swoosh logo and a blue Winnipeg Jets jersey with Byfuglien and 33 in white on the back. He was last seen running north toward Smith Street. or submitted online.
Global News
20 minutes ago
- Global News
Chris Brown pleads not guilty to assault charge in U.K.
Chris Brown pleaded not guilty Friday to a charge related to the serious beating of a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub in 2023. Brown, 36, wore a blue suit, a white shirt and black-rimmed glasses during his arraignment in London's Southwark Crown Court on one count of attempting to unlawfully and maliciously cause grievous bodily harm with intent. When asked how he pleaded to the grievous bodily harm count, Brown said, 'Not guilty, ma'am.' Brown's friend and fellow musician Omololu Akinlolu, 39, who performs under the name Hoody Baby, pleaded not guilty to the same charge. View image in full screen American singer Chris Brown arrives at Southwark Crown Court over allegations of attacking producer Abe Diaw with a bottle at a London nightclub in February 2023 in London, United Kingdom on June 20, 2025. Brown is accused of launching an 'unprovoked attack' on producer Amadou 'Abe' Diaw at the Tape nightclub in London in February 2023 while he was on tour. Story continues below advertisement Prosecutor Hannah Nicholls said Brown struck Diaw several times with a tequila bottle and then punched and kicked him. The attack was caught on surveillance camera in front of a club full of people, prosecutors said. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Brown was originally charged with a single count of grievous bodily harm after his arrest in May, but prosecutors subsequently brought an indictment adding two counts: assault causing actual bodily harm and having an offensive weapon, a bottle. He did not enter pleas on the additional counts on Friday and was ordered to return to court on July 11 to face those charges after wrapping up the European leg of his world tour. His trial was scheduled for Oct. 26, 2026. Brown shared an Instagram post following his court appearance with the caption, 'Let's [sic] the sky fall. If im looking at you then my lense [sic] is a rose. #holyblindfold #BREEZYBOWL.' Story continues below advertisement The Run It singer was released last month on US$6.7-million bail, which allowed him to start his Breezy Bowl XX tour earlier this month. Judge Tony Baumgartner said the 36-year-old singer could continue his tour, including several stops in the U.K., but would have to pay the bail to guarantee his appearance in court. Brown could be asked to forfeit the money if he breaches bail conditions. Brown's bail conditions include surrendering his passport if he is not travelling on tour, living at a specific address known to the court, not contacting Diaw, not visiting the Tape nightclub where the incident took place and not applying for international travel documents. Following his release after spending almost one week in jail, Brown posted on Instagram: 'Cook, remain humble.' Story continues below advertisement Brown is currently touring the U.K., playing in London with subsequent shows in Ireland, Scotland, France and Portugal. He returns to North America at the end of July to play Miami, before moving across the U.S. with a two-night stop in Toronto along the way. — With files from The Associated Press
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Pro-Palestinian activists say they damaged planes on a U.K. air force base
LONDON — British police are searching for suspects after pro-Palestinian activists claimed to have broken into a Royal Air Force Base and damaged two planes with red paint, officials said Friday. The group Palestine Action said two members entered RAF Brize Norton on Wednesday and used electric scooters to approach the Voyager jets, which are used for air-to-air refueling. The duo sprayed red paint into the planes' turbine engines with repurposed fire extinguishers and caused further damage with crowbars, according to the group, which released video footage appearing to show an individual approach a jet and spray paint into the engine. The activists left the base without being detained, Palestine Action said. The group said in a statement that 'despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spy planes over Gaza and refuel US/Israeli fighter jets.' It called the U.K. 'an active participant in the Gaza genocide and war crimes across the Middle East.' Britain's Ministry of Defense confirmed the incident, saying: 'We strongly condemn this vandalism of Royal Air Force assets.' Planes from Brize Norton, 70 miles (112 kilometers) northwest of London, regularly fly to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, Britain's main air base for operations in the Middle East. The U.K. has sent more Typhoon fighter jets and Voyager tankers to Cyprus since the Israel-Iran war started a week ago for what Prime Minister Keir Starmer called 'contingency support.' Iran has threatened to attack U.S., French and British bases in the region if those countries help Israel fend off Iranian strikes. Thames Valley Police said in a statement that it had 'received a report of people gaining access to RAF Brize Norton and causing criminal damage.' Officers were working with staff at the base and the Ministry of Defense Police to arrest the perpetrators, the department said. The Associated Press
