American R&B singer Chris Brown has been arrested in the United Kingdom over an alleged bottle attack at a London nightclub in 2023, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The 36-year-old musician was taken into custody by the Metropolitan Police in the early hours of Thursday at The Lowry Hotel in Salford, just hours after arriving in the city on a private jet. His arrest is linked to an incident that occurred on February 19, 2023, at Tape, a luxury nightclub in Hanover Square.
The case is being handled by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit, according to reports.
The alleged victim, identified as Mr. Diaw, accused Brown of carrying out an unprovoked assault at around 3 a.m. during a night out with his entourage. In a statement to The Sun on Sunday, Mr. Diaw claimed that Brown hit him on the head with a bottle multiple times, then continued to punch and kick him while he lay on the ground.
“He hit me over the head two or three times. My knee collapsed as well,” Diaw recounted, adding that he required hospitalization and was on crutches following his release.
The incident has led to a civil lawsuit filed by Mr. Diaw, who is demanding $16 million (£12 million) in damages for physical injuries and financial losses allegedly caused by the assault.
Brown, a two-time Grammy Award winner, was scheduled to continue his “Breezy Bowl XX Tour,” with performances planned across the UK, including two nights at Manchester’s Co-Op Live stadium and a show at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. The ongoing police investigation may jeopardize the remainder of his tour.
This is not the first time Brown has faced legal trouble. The singer has a history of legal issues, including a 2009 felony conviction for assaulting pop star Rihanna.
As of press time, neither Chris Brown nor his legal representatives have issued an official statement regarding the latest arrest.
