What happened at the London nightclub in 2023 that led to Chris Brown's arrest?

Popular US singer Chris Brown has been arrested in the UK in connection with a bottle attack at a London nightclub in 2023. As The Sun reported, the 36-year-old musician was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in Manchester, England, in the early hours of Thursday, May 15. Brown was arrested at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester after arriving in the UK for his upcoming "Breezy Bowl XX" tour, and held on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm to music producer Abe Diaw at the Tape nightclub in Mayfair.


The Metropolitan Police said in a statement, “A 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester shortly after 02:00hrs on Thursday, 15 May on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. He has been taken into custody, where he remains.”

The statement continued, noting, "The arrest relates to an incident at a venue in Hanover Square on [Feb. 19, 2023]. The investigation is being led by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit.’’

According to British law, a suspect cannot be named upon their arrest to ensure that they receive a fair trial.


What happened at the London nightclub in 2023?

Brown was sued by music producer Abraham 'Abe' Diaw in November 2023 over an alleged assault that took place at TAPE nightclub, located on Hanover Square, in February of that year.


Speaking to the Sun in 2023, Diaw claimed Brown hit him over the head with a bottle of Don Julio 1942 tequila, before punching and kicking him and then knocking him unconscious on the floor. As per the lawsuit, Diaw alleged that Brown "continued to ruthlessly stomp" on him for "30 seconds." He claimed that the attack caused head lacerations, torn ligaments in his leg, knee injuries, and lasting emotional distress. He added that he was taken to the hospital and needed crutches to walk when he was discharged.

Diaw alleges that he knew Brown for several years and initially thought the singer was approaching him for a hug. Instead, Brown allegedly struck him multiple times with the bottle and continued the assault while he was unconscious. Surveillance footage from the nightclub reportedly captured the incident.

In his lawsuit, Diaw is seeking $16 million in damages, including $1 million in special damages and $15 million in general damages.

As reported by Radar Online, Brown's tour promoter previously filed a motion to strike part of Diaw's allegations. The motion was denied in April 2024.

The ‘Sensational’ star is facing charges of grievous bodily harm with intent, and he is set to appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court on May 16.


Who is Chris Brown?

Chris Brown is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor, born in 1989, in Tappahannock, Virginia. He gained fame in the mid-2000s with his debut single "Run It!" and has since become one of the most commercially successful R&B artists, often referred to as the "King of R&B" by his contemporaries.


However, this isn’t the first time the star musician has faced a controversy of this kind. Brown’s career has been tainted with several controversies.

In 2009, he pleaded guilty to felony assault of his then-girlfriend Rihanna, resulting in probation and community service. He has faced other legal challenges over the years, including assault charges and altercations.