Chris Brown, the controversial R&B star, has been arrested in Manchester, UK, in connection with an alleged attack involving a bottle in February 2023. The 36-year-old singer, who recently arrived in the country for his tour, was detained at The Lowry Hotel, where he was scheduled to perform later this month.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest, stating, “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 arrest relates to an incident at a venue in Hanover Square on 19 February 2023. The investigation is being led by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit.”
The incident in question allegedly took place at Tape nightclub in London, where music producer Abe Diaw claimed that Brown assaulted him with a bottle. According to the accusations, Brown struck Diaw over the head with a bottle of tequila and then “ruthlessly” stomped on his head while he was on the ground, causing him to lose consciousness. Diaw later filed a lawsuit against Brown, claiming he had sustained severe and lasting injuries from the attack.
Diaw also accused Brown of spreading false rumors about him following the alleged incident, though it is unclear if the lawsuit was settled.
At the time of the alleged attack, Brown had left the country before police could question him, leading to a delay in the investigation. His team has yet to comment on the arrest.
The arrest comes at a time when Brown is in the UK for a tour, and it remains uncertain how the ongoing police investigation will impact his scheduled performances.
This isn’t the first time Brown has faced legal issues in the UK. In the past, he was banned from entering the country due to his 2009 assault conviction involving then-girlfriend Rihanna. However, the ban was lifted in 2020 by former Home Secretary Priti Patel, though the British government did not publicly provide the reasons for the reversal. Since then, Brown has toured the UK, performing at various events, including a guest appearance at WizKid’s concert in 2021.
