Grammy Award-winning singer Chris Brown has been sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months – avoiding a prison sentence – for a “vicious and unprovoked” attack at a London nightclub in 2023.
Before sentencing, Judge Tony Baumgartner warned Brown: “I am considering your employment and your long career in music. Your fame, your business success and your professional status do not entitle you to special treatment. The law applies equally to everyone.”
In July, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of affray at Southwark Crown Court in London for attacking a music producer with a bottle of tequila to the head.
His co-accused, Omololu Akinlolu, also pleaded guilty. The United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service (a position similar to that of the district attorney) described Akinlolu, a Florida rapper also known as HoodyBaby, as Brown’s vocal coach. He was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months.
In July, Southwark Crown Court heard the duo attacked the victim, Abraham Diaw, at Tape London nightclub in February 2023. Brown was accused of twice hitting the victim with a tequila bottle on the head while Akinlolu punched him.
“They continued their assault while the victim attempted to flee through the club,” the CPS said in a statement. “The victim was kicked while sitting helpless on the ground.”
After the victim went to hospital with injuries to his head and knees, an arrest warrant was issued for Brown and Akinlolu, although they had by then left the UK. Brown was arrested in May 2025 while returning to the UK as part of his world tour to perform in Manchester.
“This was a brutal and unprovoked attack by Brown and Akinlolu in a crowded nightclub, where Brown used a glass bottle as a weapon to hit the victim’s head twice,” Claire Campbell, senior prosecutor for CPS London South, said after securing the conviction.
Both men denied charges of assault and grievous bodily harm as well as Brown possessing an offensive weapon, and these were later dropped.
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