American singer Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to affray over a 2023 nightclub incident in London, after prosecutors described the incident as a “vicious and unprovoked attack.”
The 37-year-old musician entered the guilty plea on Friday at Southwark Crown Court, leading prosecutors to withdraw more serious charges, including assault, attempted grievous bodily harm, and possession of an offensive weapon involving a tequila bottle.
Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26.
His vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, also pleaded guilty to affray, with related assault and grievous bodily harm charges against him subsequently dropped.
The case relates to an incident at Tape, a private members’ club in Mayfair, London, during the early hours of February 19, 2023.
Prosecutors said CCTV footage showed Brown striking the victim on the head with a glass bottle before the man was chased, pushed to the ground and kicked.
The Crown Prosecution Service said Brown approached the victim from the dance floor and struck him with the bottle, after which Akinlolu allegedly joined the attack.
“They continued their assault whilst the victim attempted to flee through the club. The victim was kicked while he was seated defenceless on the floor.”
Detective Constable Zara Ripamonti of the Metropolitan Police described the incident as unacceptable.
“This was a disgraceful, unprovoked assault that put a man in hospital.”
She said the investigation had been lengthy but expressed satisfaction that the two men accepted responsibility for their actions.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Claire Campbell also condemned the violence, saying:”This was a vicious and unprovoked attack by Brown and Akinlolu in a crowded nightclub where Brown used a glass bottle as a weapon to strike the victim’s head twice.”
Judge Tony Baumgartner granted Brown continued bail and fixed sentencing for both men for October 26. The singer is allowed to leave the United Kingdom but must return by October 25 under his bail conditions.
The court hearing lasted less than five minutes.
Brown arrived wearing a beige suit and baseball cap, waving to supporters outside the court as fans played his songs and displayed signs bearing his name.
Earlier bail arrangements required Brown to provide a £5 million security fee and allowed him to continue his world tour on the condition that he surrender his passport upon arrival in each country.
Brown, known for hits including Loyal, Look At Me Now and With You, has previously faced legal issues. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to assaulting his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna, before the Grammy Awards and received a sentence of community labour and probation.
He later described the incident as something that would “haunt me forever.”
