Key facts
- Chris Brown pleaded guilty to affray in London.
- The charge stems from a 2023 nightclub incident.
- More serious charges of attempted grievous bodily harm and assault causing actual bodily harm were dropped.
- Brown and co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu will be sentenced on October 26, 2026.
Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown pleaded guilty to affray in London for a 2023 nightclub incident, where he allegedly struck a music producer with a bottle. Brown, 37, changed his plea during a hearing at London's Southwark Crown Court. In exchange for the guilty plea to affray, prosecutors dropped charges of assault, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, and possessing an offensive weapon. Brown's friend, Omololu Akinlolu, also pleaded guilty to affray. Prosecutors stated that surveillance footage showed Brown attacking music producer Abraham Diaw at the Tape nightclub in Mayfair. The affray charge accepted by the defendants states that their conduct would cause a person of reasonable firmness to fear for their safety. Claire Campbell, a senior prosecutor, described it as a "vicious and unprovoked attack." Akinlolu also punched the victim. Brown had left the UK after the brawl but was arrested in May 2025. He had been free on bail of 5 million pounds ($6.7 million). Brown, who has a history of legal troubles including a 2009 felony assault conviction involving Rihanna, was freed on bail again and will be sentenced on October 26, 2026. The affray charge carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.