Chris Brown maintains innocence amid new assault allegations

Chris Brown, under scrutiny for alleged assault charges, has pleaded not guilty in a London court relating to an alleged attack that took place two years prior.

US singer Chris Brown has reaffirmed his not guilty plea in a London court concerning two new assault charges linked to an alleged bottle attack at a nightclub two years ago. The 36-year-old artist is accused of inflicting physical harm on a music producer during what prosecutors describe as an "unprovoked" incident. Along with this charge, he faces an additional accusation of wielding an offensive weapon, identified as a tequila bottle. These allegations follow a previous, more serious charge of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), to which Brown has also pleaded not guilty. His trial is set for October 2026.

Dressed in a brown suit with dark glasses, Brown appeared at Southwark Crown Court for the hearing, greeting supporters who gathered to show their enthusiasm. Prosecutors allege that the victim, Abraham Diaw, was assaulted with a bottle while at Soho's Tape nightclub in February 2023. Following the incident, Brown was arrested at the Lowry Hotel in Salford, Greater Manchester in May, and was detained for nearly a week before being released after providing a £5m security fee to the court. This arrangement serves as a financial assurance for his court appearances.

Under the terms of his bail, Brown is required to reside at a UK address pending trial, and has surrendered his passport to police, although arrangements were made allowing him to retrieve it for tour engagements. Brown recently completed performances in Europe as part of his Breezy Bowl XX world tour and is set to begin the North American leg shortly. Known for his significant impact on the R&B scene, Brown has received two Grammy Awards and boasts an impressive series of hits, including "Turn Up The Music," "Freaky Friday," and "With You." His co-defendant, 39-year-old Omololu Akinlolu, also pleaded not guilty to similar charges related to the incident.