American singer Chris Brown, 37, has pleaded guilty to affray in connection with an assault on a music producer at a London nightclub in 2023. He appeared at Southwark Crown Court on July 24, 2026, where a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two charges of possessing an offensive weapon were dropped.
Brown admitted to his role in an incident at the Tape private members' club in Mayfair. The prosecution stated that Brown struck the victim twice over the head with a glass bottle. The singer's vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, 40, also admitted affray and punched the victim while he was attempting to flee. The victim was reportedly kicked while on the ground and sought treatment at St Mary's Hospital for head and knee injuries.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Claire Campbell described the incident as a "vicious and unprovoked attack" and stated that the Crown Prosecution Service would "work tirelessly... to prove that no one is above the law."
Brown was arrested in May of the previous year at a Manchester hotel after arriving in the UK for his European tour preparations. He was held in custody for nearly a week before being released on bail. As part of his bail conditions, he had previously been ordered to pay a £5 million security fee and was allowed to undertake a world tour on the condition that he surrendered his passport upon arrival in each country.
Brown, who has won two Grammy Awards and achieved numerous UK top-ten singles, first gained fame as a teenager with his 2005 debut album. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26.
He was released on bail again following the hearing.