Chris Brown Arrested in Manchester Over 2023 London Nightclub Assault Allegation

Chris Brown

American singer Chris Brown was arrested early Thursday morning, May 15, at the Lowry Hotel in Salford, Manchester, in connection with an alleged nightclub assault that occurred in London two years ago. The 36-year-old artist was taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police shortly after arriving in the U.K. on a private jet.

Authorities confirmed that a 36-year-old man was arrested at approximately 2 a.m. on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. The arrest stems from an incident on February 19, 2023, at a nightclub in Hanover Square, London. While police did not name the individual due to protocol, it has been confirmed that Brown was the subject of the arrest. The investigation is being led by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit.

The alleged victim, music producer Abraham Diaw, accused Brown of attacking him at Tape nightclub, claiming the singer struck him over the head multiple times with a bottle and kicked him, causing serious injuries including a collapsed knee. Diaw has filed a civil suit against Brown seeking $16 million in damages for physical and financial harm resulting from the incident.

At the time of the arrest, no statement had been released by Brown’s legal team or publicist.

Chris Brown’s history of violent altercations has followed him throughout his career. In 2009, he was charged with felony assault after assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna, a case that resulted in international backlash and led to Brown being denied a visa to the U.K. in 2010. In 2012, Brown was involved in a nightclub brawl with Drake’s entourage in New York that left several people injured. A year later, he had a public altercation with Frank Ocean over a parking space in West Hollywood.

In 2013, Brown was arrested for punching a man outside a hotel in Washington, D.C., which led to jail time for violating probation. In 2015, he was linked to an assault during a basketball game at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, though his team denied his involvement. In 2016, he was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon at his home, and in 2017, a court granted actress Karrueche Tran a restraining order after she alleged Brown had threatened her life. He has also faced lawsuits over multiple alleged assaults involving his entourage.

Brown is scheduled to begin the European leg of his Breezy Bowl XX Tour on June 8 at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam. It remains unclear whether this arrest will impact his scheduled U.K. tour dates or whether he is still in custody. Brown has not made any public comment on the arrest via his social media accounts.