American R&B singer Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to a charge of affray over a violent altercation at a London nightclub in February 2023, bringing an end to a criminal case that had been due to go to trial later this year.
Brown entered the plea at Southwark Crown Court on July 24. In return, prosecutors from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said they would not pursue more serious charges of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.
The case stemmed from an incident at Tape, a private members’ club in Mayfair, London, following Brown’s concert in Wales on February 19, 2023.
According to court proceedings, an altercation occurred involving Brown, his vocal coach Omololu Akinlolu, and music producer Abraham Diaw. Prosecutors said Diaw suffered injuries to his head and knee during the incident and required hospital treatment.
During Friday’s hearing, Brown, 37, and Akinlolu, 40, admitted to using or threatening unlawful violence during the confrontation.
Under UK law, affray is a public order offence involving the use or threat of unlawful violence in circumstances that would cause a bystander to fear for their safety.
By pleading guilty, Brown avoids a criminal trial that had been scheduled to begin in October.
Crown prosecutor Heidi Stonecliffe told the court that the remaining assault and weapons charges, which Brown had previously denied, would be formally withdrawn.