R&B singer Chris Brown pleaded guilty to affray in a London court on Friday, stemming from a nightclub attack in 2023. The charge, which carries a maximum of three years in jail, is the result of an incident where Brown allegedly struck music producer Abe Diaw with a tequila bottle.
Brown, 37, and his co-defendant, rapper Omololu Akinlolu, entered the same plea during a brief hearing at Southwark Crown Court. Charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon were dropped against Brown. He was released on bail and is scheduled for sentencing on October 26.
According to court documents filed in May 2025, the incident occurred in February 2023 at the Tape London nightclub. Diaw claimed in a lawsuit that Brown assaulted him with a bottle of Don Julio 1942, inflicting severe injuries, including lacerations and torn ligaments. Diaw also alleged that Brown stomped on him and kicked him in the neck, causing him to lose consciousness.
Brown initially denied the allegations. After his arrest in May 2025, he posted a £5 million bail, which allowed him to proceed with his European and North American tours. The producer's lawsuit also accused Brown of defamation for allegedly spreading false rumors about him after the incident.
This case adds to Brown's history of legal troubles. In a separate incident last month, he was ordered to pay $13 million to a former housekeeper who was attacked by his dog in 2020. Brown's most significant legal issue was in 2009 when he pleaded guilty to felony assault for attacking his then-girlfriend, Rihanna.
Fans gathered outside the courthouse on Friday, where Brown arrived accompanied by security. He was seen wearing a tan suit, gold-rimmed sunglasses, and a St. Louis Cardinals baseball hat.