Chris Brown pleads guilty to 2023 London nightclub attack as he faces sentencing in October

Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to affray in connection with a violent attack at a London nightclub in 2023, ending plans to stand trial on more serious charges.

Chris Brown admits to London nightclub attack in 2023

The 37-year-old American singer pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, where the hearing lasted less than five minutes. His vocal coach and co-accused, Omololu Akinlolu, who goes by the name HoodyBaby, also pleaded guilty to the fight. Both men are scheduled to be sentenced on October 26.

The case relates to an incident at the Tape nightclub in Hanover Square, Mayfair, in the early hours of February 19, 2023. Prosecutors said Brown approached record producer Abraham Diaw on the dance floor before hitting him twice over the head with a glass bottle. Akinlolu then joined in the attack, according to the Crown Prosecution Service. The victim was also kicked as he tried to escape through the crowded area.

Read also | Chris Brown denies ‘bottle attack’ in London nightclub

Diaw was taken to St Mary’s Hospital with head and knee injuries. The prosecution described the incident as a “brutal and unprovoked attack” and said a glass bottle was used as a weapon. Claire Campbell, chief prosecutor for CPS London South, said: “This kind of violence is completely unacceptable and the Crown Prosecution Service will work tirelessly – with the police and partners across the criminal justice system – to tackle cases like this and prove that no one is above the law.”

Brown had previously denied the charges, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, attempted grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon – in the case identified as a bottle – in a public place. Those charges were dropped after he pleaded guilty to affray. Akinlolu had also previously denied assault charges before entering a guilty plea.

Under English law, affray includes the use or threat of unlawful violence in circumstances which would cause a person of reasonable fortitude present at the scene to fear for his personal safety. This crime can be punishable by up to three years in prison.

The guilty plea follows a lengthy legal process that began more than two years after the nightclub incident. Brown and Akinlolu left the UK after the attack and arrest warrants were subsequently issued. Brown was arrested in Manchester on 15 May 2025 after returning to Britain for a concert as part of his world tour.

At earlier hearings, Brown was ordered to post a £5 million bond as part of his bail. The terms allowed him to continue international travel provided he surrendered his passport upon arrival in each country. He was bailed again after Friday’s hearing and must return to the UK before the sentencing date.

The singer’s court appearance attracted a small group of supporters outside Southwark Crown Court. Fans held signs supporting Brown, with one person shouting “I love you Chris” as he walked by. Brown also addressed his supporters earlier during his tour, saying, “Thank you for coming out and supporting me,” before adding, “And thank you to the prison,” referring to his time in custody. “It was really nice.

Read also | Chris Brown has been released on £5 million bail by a London court in an assault case

Brown’s guilty plea adds to a long history of legal trouble that has dogged his career. In 2009, he pleaded guilty in the United States to aggravated assault on his then-girlfriend Rihanna. He later served time in a Los Angeles jail after violating probation related to the case.

Despite these legal disputes, Brown remained a commercially successful artist and performer. He rose to international prominence in the mid-2000s and won two Grammy Awards in a career spanning more than two decades.

The London case initially threatened to disrupt Brown’s tour schedule. Following his arrest in 2025, his bail conditions and requirement to provide a substantial financial security became central to the proceedings as he sought permission to continue his international commitments while the case went through the courts.

The trial will now move to the sentencing phase. Brown and Akinlolu are due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on October 26, when the court will decide the consequences of their guilty pleas to affray.