Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown pleaded guilty Friday to affray in connection with a 2023 nightclub attack in London, avoiding a trial on more serious charges after prosecutors agreed to drop them.
Brown, 37, changed his plea during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court. Prosecutors withdrew charges of assault, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, and possessing an offensive weapon — a bottle — in exchange for the guilty plea.
Brown’s friend and vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, also pleaded guilty to affray. The two had been scheduled to stand trial in October.
The case stems from an incident at Tape nightclub in London’s Mayfair district in February 2023. Prosecutors alleged Brown struck music producer Abraham Diaw over the head with a glass bottle before the assault continued inside the crowded nightclub. The confrontation was captured on surveillance video, according to prosecutors.
Claire Campbell, a senior prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service, described the incident as “a vicious and unprovoked attack” and said, “This kind of violence is entirely unacceptable, and the Crown Prosecution Service will work tirelessly … to prove that no one is above the law.”
Following the altercation, Brown left the United Kingdom. He was arrested in Manchester in May 2025 after returning for a concert as part of his world tour. A judge later granted him bail set at 5 million pounds (about $6.7 million), allowing him to continue touring while awaiting trial.
Brown was released on bail again after Friday’s hearing. He and Akinlolu are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 26. Under U.K. law, affray carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
Brown rose to prominence in the mid-2000s and has won two Grammy Awards, including this year’s award for Best R&B Album for “11:11 (Deluxe).” His career has also been marked by legal troubles, including his 2009 felony assault conviction involving then-girlfriend Rihanna.
