American R&B star Chris Brown is set to appear in a UK court on Friday after being arrested and charged in connection with an alleged assault at a London nightclub in February 2023, police confirmed.
Brown, 36, was taken into custody in the early hours of Thursday at a hotel in Manchester, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Police.
He has been charged with “grievous bodily harm with intent” following an incident that allegedly took place at a venue in Hanover Square, central London.
The Sun newspaper reports that the singer is accused of attacking music producer Abe Diaw with a bottle at Tape, a popular nightclub in Mayfair. Brown was reportedly in the UK on tour at the time of the incident.
Police say the singer remains in custody and is expected to appear in court in Manchester at 10am (0900 GMT) on Friday.
Brown arrived in the UK via private jet on Wednesday afternoon and was staying at the five-star Lowry Hotel when he was arrested. He is scheduled to begin a world tour next month, with multiple UK dates planned for June and July.
History of Violence
The Grammy-winning artist, known for early-2000s hits such as “Kiss, Kiss,” has faced a series of legal troubles over the years, including a felony conviction for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009.
Since then, Brown has been involved in a number of high-profile incidents. In 2012, he was involved in a violent altercation at a New York nightclub with members of rapper Drake’s entourage, during which NBA player Tony Parker sustained an eye injury.
In 2014, he pleaded guilty to assaulting a fan in Washington, D.C.
He was also arrested in 2016 after a woman alleged he had pointed a gun at her, and that same year, another woman accused him of battery in Las Vegas.
In 2019, Brown was detained in Paris over a rape allegation, which he denied. No charges were filed.
Brown rose to fame in his teens and has sold tens of millions of records worldwide, but his career has long been overshadowed by repeated allegations of violence and misconduct.
