Chris Brown changes plea to guilty in affray case, avoids more serious charges

American singer and songwriter Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to the affray charges related to the alleged 2023 London club 'unprovoked attack' on the music producer. Brown appeared for the hearing at Southwark Crown Court on July 24, 2026. The prosecutors have decided not to proceed with further serious assault charges.

The 37-year-old singer was accused of allegedly attacking music producer Abraham Diaw at London's Tape nightclub (a private members' club) on February 19, 2023.

The prosecutors previously alleged that Brown attacked Diaw with a tequila bottle, leading to Brown's arrest in May 2025 at the Lowry hotel in Salford, Greater Manchester. He was held in custody for nearly a week. He was initially denied bail; however, he was later released after promising to pay a £5 million ($6.6 million) security fee and surrendering his passport during his visit to other countries. A security fee is usually a guarantee to ensure that the defendant will appear in court.

Brown was due to face trial this October on more serious charges, including attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and possessing a weapon (a tequila bottle). According to NBC News, these serious charges have now been dropped after Brown pleaded guilty to affray charges. Previously, in June 2025, Brown had already pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempting grievous bodily harm along with his co-defendant, Omolulu Akinlolu.

Rapper and vocal coach Omololu Akinlolu, also known as HoodyBaby has pleaded guilty to the affray charges along with Brown on Friday, July 24, 2026. The affray charges are defined as using violence to threaten somebody and make them fear for their safety.

Here are more details about the case

Chris Brown affray charges update: Singer pleads guilty and prosecutors drop serious charges

On Friday, July 24, 2026, Chris Brown and Omololu Akinlolu appeared at the Southwark Crown Court for the hearing of the 2023 London club case involving an alleged attack on music producer Abraham Diaw. The hearing took place for less than five minutes where Brown and Akinlolu confirmed their names and pleaded guilty to affray charges.

They were charged with more serious offences of attempting to cause bodily harm and a less serious charge of causing actual bodily harm. However, the pair had denied these charges. They were due to go on trial this October.

After they pleaded guilty on affray charges, prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe remarked that the other serious charges have been dropped and would not proceed to trial.

Judge Tony Baumgartner declared that the sentencing of the affray charges for Chris Brown and Omololu Akinlolu is scheduled for October 26, 2026.

The singer waved at his fans as he arrived during the Friday hearing. He wore a beige suit and a baseball cap. Fans and well-wishers arrived and played Brown's music, held up signs and chanted his name to show their love and support for him. Brown did not miss the opportunity to sign autographs for his well-wishers and fans.

During his tour performance at Manchester last summer, he joked about his time in jail, calling it 'nice'. He said (via BBC),

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"Thank you for coming and supporting me," he said to fans in Manchester. "And thank you to the jail. "It was really nice."

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