Chris Brown has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges stemming from a bottle attack incident that allegedly occurred at a London nightclub in 2023. The 36-year-old R&B singer faces accusations of causing actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon, said to be a tequila bottle. These new charges come in addition to an earlier, more serious charge of attempted grievous bodily harm, to which he had already pleaded not guilty.
The case centres on an incident at Tape nightclub in Soho, London, on the night of February 19, 2023. A music producer, identified as the alleged victim, was reportedly at the bar when Brown is accused of striking him multiple times with a bottle in what prosecutors describe as an unprovoked assault.
Brown made a court appearance on Friday at Southwark Crown Court for a formal plea hearing. He arrived wearing a brown suit and dark-rimmed glasses, greeting onlookers with a wave and placing his hand over his chest. Around 20 supporters gathered in the public gallery for the proceedings.
The R&B artist, known for hits like “Turn Up the Music” and “Don’t Wake Me Up,” was arrested last month at a luxury hotel in Salford after arriving in the UK to prepare for a European leg of his world tour. Following nearly a week in custody, he was released on bail after putting up a substantial £5 million security bond—a measure meant to ensure his compliance with court orders and attendance at future hearings.
As part of his bail terms, Brown must remain within the UK and reside at a specified address until his trial begins in October 2026. He has also been required to surrender his passport to authorities. However, a flexible arrangement has been agreed upon, allowing him to retrieve his passport temporarily for travel related to his ongoing “Breezy Bowl XX” world tour. This compromise enabled him to perform the tour’s opening show in Amsterdam on June 8, followed by a string of performances in major venues across Europe and the UK.
Brown’s co-accused, a 39-year-old fellow American artist who goes by the stage name HoodyBaby, has also pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted grievous bodily harm. The two are expected to stand trial together.
This is not the first time Brown has faced legal trouble. While his career has been marked by commercial success—garnering two Grammy Awards and numerous chart-topping singles—it has also been shadowed by a history of assault-related incidents. Despite these controversies, he remains one of the most prominent figures in contemporary R&B, with a large fan base in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
The upcoming trial will likely attract significant media attention, as it revisits questions about celebrity accountability and the legal consequences of violence. Until then, Brown will continue performing under tightly monitored conditions, balancing his music commitments with the legal battle ahead.
