Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to affray following an alleged bottle attack at a Mayfair club in 2023. The R&B singer attended a case management hearing at Southwark Crown Court today, waving to his supporters as he arrived at the court in London.
Earlier this year, Brown denied all charges made against him, including attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon. However, he has now pleaded guilty to affray following the allegation that he attacked a former friend at the Tape private members' club in Mayfair in 2023.
Brown, who is due to face a jury trial on October 26, was previously charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Abraham Diaw. He pleaded not guilty to the charge in June last year. His vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, also denied the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
On Friday, three charges were dropped, including the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Diaw, the charge of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, and the charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm. Brown will be sentenced on the affray charge on October 26.
In UK law, a person is found guilty of affray if they use or threaten unlawful violence towards another and their conduct is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for their personal safety. The legislation states that a person guilty of affray is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or a fine or both, or on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both.
Following today's hearing, a police spokesperson said that the alleged assault was a "disgraceful, unprovoked" attack that put a man in hospital. The Crown Prosecution Service stated that the attack was a "vicious and unprovoked" assault by Brown and his associate, and that the Crown Prosecution Service will work tirelessly to pursue cases like this and prove that no one is above the law.
Brown was released on bail again on Friday, after being ordered to pay a £5 million security fee as part of his bail conditions. He was allowed to continue performing in his world tour, but was required to surrender his passport when he entered any country.
