Chris Brown Faces Fresh Assault Charges in London – Pleads Not Guilty
Fantastic, yet another Grammy-winning vocalist bowing before a judge in London—because why wouldn’t Chris Brown add more charges to his tab? In a scene that feels all too predictable, the “Freaky Friday” star rolled into Southwark Crown Court last Friday in a brown suit to formally deny two fresh allegations stemming from a February 2023 scuffle at TAPE nightclub. If you’re tracking, that’s on top of the grievous bodily harm charge he already contested in June. I didn’t want to be the one to point it out, but that’s where we’re at.
Brown’s new denials cover “assault causing actual bodily harm,” aimed at nightclub patron Abraham Diaw, and unlawful possession of an offensive weapon—in this case, a tequila bottle prosecutors claim he smashed over Diaw’s head. According to court records and TMZ’s on-the-ground coverage, Diaw says the singer delivered “severe and lasting injuries” by stomping and kicking him in the neck, leaving him out cold for about 30 seconds. You’d think a pop star would stick to dance moves, not barroom brawls.
Both charges carry hefty legal stakes, though the trial won’t kick off until October 26, 2026—ample time to file motions, swap depositions, and have this case drag on for years. Co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, accused of assisting in the attack, also pleaded not guilty. One has to wonder if they coordinated their courtroom entrances as well as their alleged nightclub tactics.
It wasn’t a casual stroll to court. Brown was first detained by UK authorities at a Manchester hotel in May—his first England visit since the alleged fracas. A judge released him on conditional bail after he surrendered his passport and shelled out roughly £5.5 million (around $6.7 million), according to Reuters. I’m no math genius, but that’s a lot of loyalty from his legal team.
Meanwhile, Diaw’s attorney, Ryan J. Daneshrad, vowed to “pursue all legal remedies to hold him accountable,” per TMZ. Yet, in a twist you might’ve seen coming, court docs show Diaw recently asked an L.A. County judge to dismiss his civil suit against Brown. That maneuver doesn’t touch the London criminal proceedings—so the punches aren’t stopped yet.
You’ve got your pop star denying wrongdoing, a nightclub altercation, bruised egos (and bodies), and legal wrangling stretching across continents. Did anyone expect a different outcome? No? Thought so. And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, Reuters
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
