Chris Brown Faces UK Court Over Assault Charge

American R&B singer Chris Brown is set to appear in a UK court today after being arrested and charged with “grievous bodily harm with intent” over an alleged assault at a London nightclub in February 2023.

The 36-year-old singer, known for hits like “Kiss, Kiss” and “Loyal,” was detained at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel early Thursday.

According to police, Brown allegedly attacked music producer Abe Diaw with a bottle at Tape nightclub in London’s Mayfair district. This incident occurred while Brown was touring the UK.

He reportedly arrived in Manchester via private jet on Wednesday afternoon, ahead of his upcoming world tour, which includes several UK dates in June and July.

The singer, who has faced criminal accusations including sexual assault and domestic violence, remains in custody and will appear in court in the northwestern city at 10:00 am (0900 GMT) on Friday, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

The singer, who began his career in the 2000s and has sold tens of millions of records worldwide, was touring the UK at the time.

Police detained Brown early Thursday at the five-star Lowry Hotel in Manchester, according to media reports.

The two-time Grammy winner rose to fame at a young age with his rich R&B voice and later rap, but his reputation was later tarnished by allegations of domestic violence and other abuse.

He was convicted of having beaten Rihanna before the 2009 Grammy Awards, forcing the pop star to miss the annual gala.

In 2012, Brown was involved in an altercation at a New York nightclub with members of hip hop star Drake’s entourage, during which French basketball star Tony Parker suffered an eye injury after being hit by a thrown glass bottle.

Two years later, he pleaded guilty to assaulting a fan in Washington.

Brown, who rose from a local church choir in Virginia to sudden fame, was also arrested in 2016 after a woman alleged that he pointed a gun at her.

Earlier that year, another woman accused him of battery in Las Vegas.

He also was previously accused of raping a woman in a luxury Paris hotel. He denied the claim and was not charged.