American R&B singer Chris Brown pleaded not guilty on Friday in a UK court to a charge stemming from an alleged nightclub assault in London in 2023.
Brown, 36, appeared in a London courtroom wearing a dark suit, tie, and glasses. Standing in the dock, he responded “Not guilty, ma’am” when the charge was read aloud.
The singer is accused of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent during an alleged altercation at a nightclub in Hanover Square on February 19, 2023, while he was touring the UK. The victim was reportedly struck with a bottle multiple times before being chased, punched, and kicked.
A trial is scheduled to begin on October 26, 2026, and is expected to last between five and seven days.
Following his plea, Brown—currently on £5 million ($6.7 million) bail—waved to supporters in the public gallery as he exited the courtroom. He was arrested in Manchester on May 13 and held in custody for nearly a week before being released on bail.
Under the conditions of his bail, Brown must forfeit the £5 million guarantee if he fails to appear in court. He is also required to reside at an address known to the court, surrender his passport when not traveling, and is prohibited from contacting the alleged victim, Abraham Diah, or returning to the nightclub where the incident occurred.
The judge granted Brown permission to continue with his international tour, which began on June 8 in Amsterdam. He is currently performing in the UK, with his next show scheduled in London on Saturday. He is also set to perform in France, Portugal, and the United States before concluding the tour in Memphis in mid-October.
Brown appeared in court alongside co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, a U.S. national, who also pleaded not guilty to the same charge. Both men are jointly accused of a second charge: assault occasioning actual bodily harm. They are scheduled to enter pleas on that charge on July 11.
Brown also faces a third charge: possession of an offensive weapon, namely a bottle, in a public place.
The Grammy-winning singer—known for early hits like “Kiss Kiss”—rose to fame from humble beginnings in a Virginia church choir. While his music career has remained commercially successful, Brown’s public image has been marred by past allegations of violence, including his widely publicized assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009.
